Germany’s Scholz says weakening the EU would be self-defeating

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday denounced calls to weaken the role of the European Union as self-destructive and irresponsible, ahead of EU parliamentary elections in June.

In a video message on the government’s website, Scholz said some populists wanted Germany to leave the European Union, others wanted to “wind down” the bloc, and still others saw Russia or China as role models.

“What self-destructive madness!” he said.

Opinion polls predict that Europe’s nationalist and Eurosceptic parties will win a record number of votes in June. Voters are expected to punish mainstream parties for their failure to protect households from high inflation, curb immigration and provide decent housing and healthcare.

The co-leader of Germany’s far-right AfD, Alice Weidel, called earlier this year for a referendum on Germany’s membership of the EU and for curtailing the powers of the European Commission.

Scholz said European unity is of paramount importance amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine and uncertainty ahead of the US presidential elections in November.

‘How irresponsible can you be to question our united Europe in such times?’ he said.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Mark Potter)