The ADR candidate for the EU elections, Fernand Kartheiser, discussed the upcoming vote with RTL Radio on Friday.
The Alternative Democratic Reform Party sees many challenges on the horizon for the European Union, not least restricted to institutions, immigration, individual freedom of expression, the economy and the EU's strategic position vis-a-vis the war in Ukraine. Kartheiser believes a pro-Ukraine policy for the EU can only result in negotiations with Russia: "Ukraine is losing at a military level, and any dialogue would surely be in Moscow's interests as well," he explained.
Kartheiser says the shift to the right within the EU represents a risk, going on to describe an issue of extremism: "On the left as well, with woke movements, Islamism or radical eco-warriors, there are more and more divisions appearing within society, more and more opposites. This needs to be avoided with increased dialogue instead of creating more division."
The ADR lead candidate specified that collaboration with Germany's right-wing populist AfD is no longer possible, as the party was recently excluded from the right-wing ID faction. Theoretically, AfD could no longer be a dialogue partner for the ADR, Kartheiser added.
Relaunching Europe's economy is a priority for the ADR. In recent years, Kartheiser says the EU has persisted in introducing regulations, rather than innovating. "We must relieve companies of political constraints by adopting another approach, particularly in terms of decarbonisation or supply chains, while staying open to new technologies in energy production or motorisation." Above all, Kartheiser warns again imposing electric vehicles on citizens, instead opting to clean up coal-based energy sources.
As for immigration, this remains a central topic of the next elections for the ADR. Kartheiser says illegal immigration must be stopped entirely, although he admits it is a "utopian objective". However, he insists that refugees in need of help, who are seeking asylum due to persecution, must still be allowed to enter the EU.
Visit our dedicated coverage of the upcoming European elections, as well as an overview of the electoral lists for Luxembourg, here.
