The co-leader of Germany’s ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) has claimed his group lost to “Nazis” in the European Elections.
During a live television event, Lars Klingbeil claimed that Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel — who was in the studio at the time — was a “Nazi” shortly after it was confirmed her populist group outperformed his.
“The result of the European elections is a wake-up call for many people to realise that the Nazis have become stronger in this election,” he told the programme.
Unfassbare Entgleisung bei Lars Klingbeil! In einer Gesprächsrunde nach Europawahl, beleidigt er Alice Weidel und die AfD als "Nazi".
Sie haben recht Herr Klingbeil, die Menschen werden aufwachen, weil sie gesehen haben, daß nicht nur ein schlechter Verlierer sind, sondern das… pic.twitter.com/pI8PxB6X1u— Der Mutbürger 🇩🇪🕊 (@GerkenSascha) June 9, 2024
Weidel then intervened, asking Klingbeil who exactly he was referring to with the term “Nazis”.
“You know that I mean the AfD and you,” the SPD leader responded.
“You just called me and the party Nazis?” Weidel asked.
“Yes,” Klinbeil responded.
His outburst came after a crushing third-place finish for the party, which is expected to have ended up two points behind the AfD.
The party performed even worse when compared to their main rival — the Christian Democrats — with the so-called Union parties of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) polling twice as high as their centre-left counterparts.
COMMENT: The isolation of the AfD may bring new success to the EU nationalist right, writes @Jay_Conz. https://t.co/ix1gKNNpV7
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 27, 2024
