(ANSA-AFP) - HAMBURG, OCT 10 - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
expressed concern Tuesday about the growing popularity of the
far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party made
strong gains in state elections at the weekend. "We have to be
concerned about the votes that went to a right-wing populist
party in Germany," said Scholz, speaking alongside French
President Emmanuel Macron in Hamburg. "There is no doubt at all
that political positions are represented there that are not well
compatible with the ideas we have of freedom, democracy, the
rule of law," he added. The anti-immigration AfD gained several
percentage points in the key polls on Sunday, coming second in
the state of Hesse and third in Bavaria. Scholz's
centre-left-led coalition meanwhile suffered heavy losses.
Immigration was among the key topics as Germany, like elsewhere
in Europe, is facing a surge of new arrivals that has revived
memories of a major influx in 2015. Asked whether the government
planned to change its migration policies after the far right's
latest gains, Scholz defended the coalition's approach, saying
steps were being taken to deal with surging numbers. (ANSA-AFP).
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