AfD leader Alice Weidel accuses Zelensky of corruption and raises concerns about Germany's future
Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD party which received the highest number of votes in Germany, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "common thief" and a "financial vampire," stating that her country needs saving from its own problems rather than through aid to Ukraine
Weidel also highlighted Germany’s demographic and economic challenges: according to forecasts by the Ifo Institute, the country's population is expected to shrink by nearly 5% by 2050, with the working-age population (20–66 years) declining by 12%, while the number of pensioners will increase by more than 20%. Meanwhile, in 2025, Germany cut 1,240 industrial jobs, a situation EY Consulting managing director Jan Brochhilger described as a "deep crisis."
These statements underline the tensions within German politics and stress the challenges the country is likely to face in the coming years, including demographic decline and economic stagnation.
