The German far right may find allies in Prague, but its nationalism, pro-Russian sympathies, and hostility toward the EU are fundamentally at odds with Czech interests. From Respekt.

By Erik Tabery

“In Poland, only idiots or traitors can rejoice at the AfD’s triumph in Germany,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote bluntly on X. We can debate whether this or that word is precise, but it’s gratifying to see that at least one prime minister in our region views the situation as serious and doesn’t want to diplomatically beat around the bush. After all, even the Polish president – with whom Tusk disagrees on almost everything – stated through a spokesperson: “Specific points of the AfD’s platform are not in Poland’s interest.” By “points,” he means support for Russia.

In the Czech Republic, at least former Prime Minister Petr Fiala has spoken out, writing online, “The platform of the AfD – which won with a mix of nationalism, completely unrealistic promises, nostalgia for the old days, fearmongering about the future, and pro-Russian sentiments – is quite frightening.” Otherwise, Czech government politicians seem rather satisfied. That’s often the case when our politicians (and not just them) mistakenly believe that current developments prove them right.

If the AfD were to succeed in national elections as well, it would not bode well for the Czech Republic. This party does not represent the new wave of common sense shared by other parties across Europe. Nationalism – which the AfD makes no secret of – would come to power. And that could clash with the Czech version.

Let’s take one example. Tomio Okamura speaks of the AfD as a partner party; they supposedly have similar platforms and goals. However, the chairman of the [far-right] Czech SPD recently declared, among other things, in a statement directed at Germany, “Unpaid war reparations amount to 18 billion Czech crowns [740 million euros]. If they want reconciliation, let them first atone for the crimes of their predecessors. And they can start paying reparations immediately.”

Tomio Okamura, now the speaker of the Czech parliament, at an anti-immigrant protest in Prague in 2015. Photo via Aktron / Wikimedia Commons

The AfD, however, argues that we must put an end to the constant reminders of Germany’s Nazi past. It also rejects the concept of the European Union, which is based, among other things, on the principle that certain powers must be shared among member states so that Germany never repeats the horrors of the 20th century. 

Party co-chair Alice Weidel made this clear in an interview with The American Conservative, saying, “The EU must thoroughly abandon the credo of the past that a strong Germany means a weak Europe.” It is worth noting that this “credo” did not refer to an economically or politically strong Germany, but to a nationalist Germany. The SPD and the AfD agree on the destruction of functioning systems in their respective countries, but nationalism will lead to the breakdown of cooperation. The stronger one simply sets the rules.

In that interview, Alice Weidel also stated clearly that “Germany does not need the EU to survive; however, the reverse is very much the case. Nevertheless, the EU behaves as if it is exactly the opposite. They act as if we Germans have to put our vital interests aside in order not to endanger the ‘European project.’ This is a grotesque distortion. Either the EU learns to take our national interests into account, or it will be gone.”

Germany is the Czech Republic’s main trading partner. It is the politically strongest country in our region. You don’t need a calculator to figure out what it would mean for us if a party that abandons the consensus-based policies established by European Union membership were to come to power in Berlin.

In any case, the Poles are showing us the right path in one respect – clearly identifying what is and what is not in their country’s interest. We shouldn’t be afraid to do the same. Anyone who rejoices in the AfD’s success is hoping for a failed Czech Republic and a strong Russia.

Erik Tabery is the editor-in-chief of Respekt, a leading Czech weekly magazine where this article originally appeared in Czech. Translated by Jeremy Druker. Reprinted with permission.