Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Habeck warns an AfD-led German government would harm Europe and Switzerland
Former German vice chancellor Robert Habeck warned that an AfD-led government would threaten Europe’s democratic order in an interview during a visit to Switzerland.
The AfD is a German party led by Alice Weidel, who lives in Switzerland.
Habeck said the party wants Germany to leave the euro area, which he argued would weaken the European single market and hurt Switzerland.
He said the conservative CDU could not join the AfD without risking a split, while the Social Democrats and Greens would not work with it.
Habeck said voters’ anger and frustration must not be ignored, even when other parties reject working with the AfD.
He linked growing support for radical parties to weaker confidence in the promise of economic progress and to people feeling unheard.
He called for a stronger Europe, saying it is in Switzerland’s interest.
Former German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck warned that an AfD-led government could harm Europe and Switzerland.
He said an AfD plan for Germany to leave the euro area would weaken the single market.
Habeck said the CDU would split if it formed a coalition with the AfD.
He argued that voters’ anger and frustration should be addressed without entering a coalition with a party he described as partly far-right.
Habeck made the comments in an interview published by Watson while visiting the University of St Gallen.
- Who
- Robert Habeck, former German vice-chancellor and economy minister.
- What
- He warned that an AfD-led government could harm Europe and Switzerland.
- When
- The interview was published on 14 November 2026.
- Where
- The interview took place at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland.
- Why
- Habeck said the AfD planned to take Germany out of the euro area, which could weaken the single market.
Robert Habeck
AfD
Germany’s relationship with Europe
Robert Habeck
Habeck said an AfD-led government would threaten Europe as a democratic space and harm Switzerland.
AfD
Habeck said the AfD planned for Germany to leave the euro area.
Coalition government
Robert Habeck
Habeck said a coalition between the CDU and AfD would change everything and split the CDU.
AfD
Not stated
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Interviewee
- Robert Habeck, former German vice-chancellor and economy minister
- Outlet
- Watson
- Publication date
- 14 November 2026
- Interview location
- Square, University of St Gallen
- AfD vote in Saxony-Anhalt
- 44 percent
What people are saying
It would be the end of Europe as a resilient democratic space.
If Germany leaves the euro area, as the AfD plans, and the single market is weakened, that would also be very bad for Switzerland.
The CDU would break apart; the party would split. And rightly so.
A strong Europe is in Switzerland’s interest.