Weidel Announces Far-Reaching Plans: Germany Should Leave the Euro and Schengen

AfD leader Alice Weidel has once again attracted attention with statements about Germany’s political future. If her party takes government responsibility, she is calling for far-reaching changes, including Germany leaving the euro system and the Schengen Area, as well as a significantly tougher migration and border policy. Weidel made the comments during the ZDF Summer Interview broadcast on August 23, 2026. Germany Out of the Euro? Among Weidel’s most significant statements were her comments on Europe’s common currency. The AfD leader defended her party’s position that Germany should leave the euro system. Weidel criticized the stability of the common currency and argued that Germany had been in a better position before the introduction of the euro. The demand for Germany to leave the euro is not new within the AfD. The party has previously included such a position in its political platform. Such a move would have far-reaching consequences. In addition to the question of a new or reintroduced national currency, German businesses, exports, loans, savings and the European single market could all be affected. Closing the Borders and Leaving Schengen Weidel was even more explicit when discussing migration policy. According to her vision, Germany should focus more strongly on preventing migrants from entering the country in the first place. In this context, she spoke about “closing” Germany’s borders. According to ZDF’s reporting on the interview, Weidel also argued that Germany should leave the Schengen Agreement. Such a move would represent a major change to European freedom of movement. The Schengen Area generally allows travel between its member countries without routine checks at their shared internal borders. A German withdrawal would therefore have implications beyond migration and could also affect travelers, cross-border commuters and businesses. Weidel Calls for Syrians to Return The future of Syrian refugees living in Germany was another subject discussed during the interview. Weidel argued that Syrians should return to their home country. She also criticized the possibility of people who originally arrived in Germany as refugees obtaining German citizenship after meeting the legal requirements. The AfD has long advocated a considerably more restrictive asylum and migration policy and also uses the term “remigration” in this context. When questioned about how large-scale deportations and agreements with countries such as Syria or Afghanistan would work in practice, Weidel focused primarily on preventing further arrivals and strengthening control of Germany’s borders. Economic Consequences Could Be Significant Germany leaving the euro and the Schengen Area would have consequences extending far beyond migration policy. Germany is one of the world’s major exporting economies and is closely integrated with other EU countries. A new German national currency could appreciate significantly against other currencies, potentially making German products more expensive abroad and reducing their competitiveness. Permanent border controls could also create additional costs. Companies with supply chains crossing European borders and employees who commute between neighboring countries could be particularly affected. AfD Sees a Path to Government During the interview, Weidel expressed confidence about her party’s political future. The AfD is seeking government responsibility at both state and federal level. Her statements demonstrate that an AfD role in government could affect much more than Germany’s migration policy. Germany’s relationship with the European Union, the euro and the Schengen Area could also change fundamentally. However, it is important to note that Germany has not decided to leave either the euro or the Schengen Area. These are political positions and objectives advocated by Alice Weidel and the AfD in the event that the party gains sufficient government power. Source: ZDF Summer Interview with Alice Weidel, August 23, 2026; additional reporting by ZDFheute and Deutschlandfunk.