Politics · Singapore Bureau
Klopp urges Germany to reclaim national pride from extremists
Germany's national football coach Juergen Klopp has called for the country to reclaim expressions of patriotism from far-right groups, in an apparent response to the recent electoral gains of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party.
LSN Singapore ·
BERLIN — Germany's national football coach Juergen Klopp said Thursday that patriotic sentiment must be wrested from those who have misappropriated it, remarks interpreted as a sharp criticism of the far right following the Alternative for Germany's strong performance in recent elections.
The AfD, an anti-immigration party, achieved significant electoral results this month, prompting concerns among mainstream politicians and public figures about the party's influence and the broader political climate in Germany.
Klopp did not explicitly name the AfD in his remarks but stated that expressions of national pride and identity had been captured by "wrong people," according to observers present at the comments. His intervention reflects growing unease among Germany's cultural and sporting establishment about the direction of political discourse in the country.
The veteran football manager's remarks add to a chorus of voices from across German society seeking to reclaim nationalist symbolism and patriotic language from extremist groups. Sports figures in particular have been vocal in recent years about distinguishing between legitimate national pride and exclusionary ideology.
Klopp's comments come as Germany faces broader debates about integration, immigration policy, and national identity ahead of upcoming federal elections.