AfD CALLS FOR RADICAL EU RESTRUCTURING

STRASBOURG, OCTOBER 21 /SRNA/ – Alternative for Germany /AfD/ has proposed a radical EU overhaul, including ending direct elections for the European Parliament and giving the European Council a central role in decision-making.

The AfD's European policy document says MEPs should be elected by national parliaments rather than directly by voters, as they are now. One proposal would also give the European Council a central role in decision-making.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized the fact that the European Commission is the only EU institution with the power to initiate legislation, describing the arrangement as "a major distortion of the democratic decision-making process."

She said this was why her party was calling for the EU to be renewed and for competent people to be returned to national parliaments and governments.

"The EU is no longer a group of sovereign states," Weidel said at a news conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Weidel also called for member states to be allowed to opt out of EU agreements, citing the Schengen Area as an example.

"If the Schengen Area is functioning, Germany should be able to withdraw from the agreement and protect its borders," Weidel stressed.