Le Pen Breaks Ties with German Ally AfD
After Far-Right Candidate's Holocaust Denial
The move marks a significant shift for the French far-right, which has sought to appeal to mainstream voters and distance itself from its extremist past. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced that her party was severing ties with the AfD, following a controversial statement by its lead candidate.
The split comes as the two parties have been cooperating in the European Parliament, where they share a common Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stance. Le Pen's decision signals a growing rift within the European far-right, as some parties seek to moderate their image while others embrace more radical positions.
The AfD's lead candidate, Alexander Gauland, made a revisionist statement in which he suggested that the Nazi era was merely a "bird's poop" in German history. Le Pen's condemnation of Gauland's remarks and her decision to break with the AfD reflect a growing concern within her party about the party's image.
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