In the ZDF program “Markus Lanz” There was a discussion on Wednesday evening about the role of the European People’s Party (EPP) in migration policy. The focus was on the EPP parliamentary group leader and CSU deputy Manfred Weber. He commented on the allegations that his group had worked more closely with far-right forces in the European Parliament than was previously known.

Weber evades

Lance Weber spoke directly to reports that there were agreements between the EPP and right-wing factions, in which the AfD was also said to have been involved. The moderator wanted to know from him: “What is your position on this? Is there this joint paper?”

Weber avoided a clear answer. He explained that he only wanted to get the federal government’s position “capable of gaining a majority (…)” in Brussels. The journalist Eva Quadbeck reacted visibly irritated to this evasive formulation. She countered: “You say there is no structured cooperation, but there was definitely unofficial cooperation.”

Lanz: “Why is structured such an important vocabulary in this context?”

Quadbeck went further. She spoke of “cooperation that is similar to a coalition.”
Weber vigorously rejected this impression. “There was and is no structured cooperation with the AfD!” said the EPP parliamentary group leader.

But Lanz didn’t give up. The moderator wanted to know why Weber emphasized the word “structured.” “Why is structured such an important vocabulary in this context?” asked Lanz. Weber evaded again and instead explained: “There was no substantive cooperation on the issue (…).”

At the end of the debate, Weber said that “we must succeed in getting those who are rejected out of Europe.” Otherwise the situation could worsen. “Then we have a completely different AfD problem! Then we have a completely different issue with the right!” warned Weber.