Euroscepticism: legitimate concern or political weapon?

Now that Germany’s elections come round, there are a couple of valid candidates to become the next Bundeskanzler. The most trendy one is by far AfD candidate Alice Weidel, defending classic far-right principles. Or are they not as classic as we have previously thought?

Alice Weidel is the leading eurosceptic leader of the country, leader of the current of opinion that questions the European Union (EU) and its policies. While it is legitimate to debate the future of Europe and the convenience of certain community policies, there should be a concern about the instrumentalisation of Euroscepticism by political leaders who, as attention-seeking “showmen“, use it for their own personal gain and to divide the right-wing vote in many European countries.

These politicians, instead of seeking solutions to the problems that concern citizens, use Euroscepticism and antiinmigration policies as a weapon to exacerbate nationalism and anti-EU sentiment, without caring about the consequences this may have for the future of Europe or Germany in this case. They raise the spectre of loss of national sovereignty, excessive bureaucracy and lack of democracy in decision-making, but they offer no viable or constructive alternatives.

Brexit is a clear example of how Euroscepticism can be used by irresponsible politicians to divide and polarise society. The Brexit campaign was based on false promises and demagogic arguments, and the result has been a divided and weakened United Kingdom, with an economy in recession and an increasingly polarised society. Far from the promises of Nigel Farage and Theresa May, the United Kingdom is worse off than when it was governed by David Cameron.

It is urgent that European conservatism recovers its traditional values ​​and abandons the path of political showmanship and scandal. Citizens need serious and responsible leaders who care about the well-being of their countries and Europe as a whole, and not their own personal benefit. We need a conservatism that puts prudence, moderation and common sense first, and that is capable of offering realistic solutions to the problems that affect us all.

In conclusion, Euroscepticism may be a legitimate concern about the direction of the EU. Still, its instrumentalisation by “vain” and “showmen” political leaders is a danger to the stability and future of Europe. We need a calm and constructive debate on the future of the EU, which puts the interests of citizens first and not those of politicians. Weidel may offer interesting points of view, but it wouldn’t be wise to complete and definitely trust her, so we should keep our eyes open at any moment and vote whatever’s better for the country and Europe as a whole.