Chrupalla in the ARD summer interview: “The election night will be billed”

Despite losses in polls, AfD top candidate Chrupalla believes that his party will have a “very good result” in the general election. He distanced himself from controversial AfD candidates ARD summer interview Not.

The top candidate of the AfD, Tino Chrupalla, expects his party’s “very good result” in the upcoming federal election. When asked about the loss of votes in previous state elections and lower polls, he said in the ARD summer interview: “We do not measure our balance sheet by polls, but on the evening of the election we settle it”. He is “very confident that we will keep our election result, if not even improve it.”

With a view to the election manifesto, the top candidate was confronted with calculations according to which the AfD was the party whose tax plans would relieve the rich the most. Chrupalla denied being the party of the higher earners. He listed the points where, in the AfD’s opinion, one could save on expenditure instead of just starting with income: “Let’s talk about the fact that we can save money on migration, let’s talk about saving a lot of money can in terms of spending by the EU or, for example, in terms of measures relating to the failed energy transition. “

Dexit, skills shortage, climate change

For many Germans, climate change is a central election campaign issue – also with a view to the flood disaster in mid-July. In its election manifesto, however, the AfD demands that climate protection measures be withdrawn. “Nobody denies climate change,” said Chrupalla. You can see that there are changes. “To blame that solely on the CO2 emissions, and also on the man-made ones, we question that and we criticize in part.” There have been flood disasters in other centuries as well. He pointed to possible measures in disaster control to adapt.

On the subject of the EU and freedom of movement, the AfD is calling for Germany to leave the EU. In their election manifesto it is also said that the shortage of skilled workers is a claim made by some business associations. “Of course there is a shortage of skilled workers,” Chrupalla said in an interview. In order to counter this, however, one must “first create the conditions in one’s own country so that young people can take up a job again and, above all, practice it again with added value”.

No distancing from controversial candidates

Chrupalla did not distance himself from controversial candidates of his party in the conversation. He was asked whether he was distancing himself from Jens Maier, who is second on the Saxon state list after Chrupalla. The AfD member of the Bundestag Maier had been classified as a right-wing extremist by the protection of the constitution. Chrupalla then said: “I can only distance myself from statements that I have made myself.” He doesn’t start to distance himself from people all the time. There are several currents in the party. As federal spokesman, he must try to unite them. “And I succeed.” Looking at the Saxon state list, he said that all persons had “a flawless police clearance certificate”.

Chrupalla continued: “We are certainly talking about expressions of opinion by some, where I also say that they do not work, they do not work.” This will also be discussed within the party. Maier and Siegbert Droese – who is third on the state list – have done a “wonderful job” in the Bundestag over the past four years. “I take that as an opportunity. And that’s how I rate people. And that people sometimes make a mistake and sometimes verbally abuse each other, that happens.”

With a view to the criticism of the NRW state vice Matthias Helferich because of chat messages related to NS, Chrupalla still does not want to speak out in favor of a party expulsion procedure. He said the federal executive had spoken out in favor of tough “party regulatory measures” such as a ban on office. “As the federal executive board, we have made a clear decision and it stands.” If the federal executive committee votes on it again tomorrow in its meeting, it will abstain again. In 2017, Helferich described himself as “the friendly face of NS” in a non-public Facebook chat, like one of the WDR posted screenshot shows.

Donation affairs: “Let’s wait and see”

Chrupalla responded evasively to the topic of the donation affairs around co-party leader Jörg Meuthen and co-top candidate Alice Weidel. How can he accept that Meuthen is still joint chairman with him and is thus burdening his election campaign? “What should I do then? This procedure is closed, the party has paid this fine.” With a view to new allegations and a threatened investigation by the Berlin public prosecutor’s office for illegal party financing against Meuthen, Chrupalla said: “Let’s wait and see what the investigations reveal.”

In a similarly vague manner, he responded to the Weidel case, where a complaint by the AfD has just been dismissed by the Berlin administrative court. This is an ongoing process and has not yet been completed. “So let’s wait and see what happens first.” Chrupalla, although the events were known, ran together with Weidel as the candidate team for the top candidacy and was elected in May by members’ vote.

Chrupalla was also asked about the corona pandemic. He did not want to say whether he would have himself vaccinated – that was a private decision. At the political level, his party is “absolutely voluntary” when it comes to vaccination. You also have to first see what the vaccination rate has brought. One hears more and more of people who are ill despite being vaccinated. It has also not yet been clarified how long the immunity will last.