Germany's alternatives are open to “exit”

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has the upper hand in terms of opinion – with just over 20%, the largest of all parties in the ruling government coalition. Meanwhile, massive counter-demonstrations against the party took place across the country after it emerged that party leaders were holding secret meetings for the mass deportation of German citizens with roots abroad if the party came to power.

In an interview with the Financial Times, party leader Alice Weidel is now opening the door to Germany's “Brexit” – that the country will leave the European Union. She wrote that the interview is one of the first she has conducted since the outbreak of demonstrations last week Watchman.

According to Weidel, the party wants to try to fix the EU's “democratic deficit” and limit the power of the European Commission – which it calls an “unelected executive.”

But if it doesn't work, if we fail to rebuild the independence of EU member states, we must leave it to the people to decide like the British did, she told the Financial Times.

Weak support for leaving the European Union

The German constitution contains significant restrictions on referendums. But if that eventually happens, it doesn't look like the AfD will get a hearing for its proposal.

According to opinion polls, support among Germans for leaving the European Union is not high. This question is even seen as taboo, writes the Financial Times.

In a poll conducted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation last year, respondents were asked whether they would vote for Germany to remain in the European Union, or whether they would vote to leave.

Only 10% say they would vote to withdraw, and among AfD voters, 55% support continued membership.