IN BRIEF
- Barnaby Joyce has rejected any comparison between One Nation and Germany's far-right populist AfD party.
- The AfD is Germany's most popular party after a state election win on Sunday.
Barnaby Joyce has sought to distance One Nation from the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), after the far-right, anti-immigration group's state election win on Sunday.
At a German state election in east-central Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD surged into first place, winning 44 per cent of the vote and delivering a significant blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, while short of an overall majority.
The AfD, which has been classified as 'far-right extremist' by domestic intelligence agencies, will have a difficult time forming government as other parties have said they will refuse to cooperate.
The party is seeking to secure a foothold for advancing its agenda, which includes heavy restrictions on immigration, restoring ties with Russia, cutting support to Ukraine and quitting the euro.
The election win has placed a far-right party within reach of power at the state level in Germany for the first time since World War Two.
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It's the latest indication of a surge in far-right populism across Europe over recent years.
Asked whether One Nation was taking anything from the German populist party's victory, Joyce said: "I'm not — We are not the AfD. That is a different party."
"I have a completely different view about the AfD than I would to ... say Giorgia Meloni in Italy, who is just a very direct and competent lady doing a good job."
The member for New England went on to list several world leaders and the Donald Trump-linked MAGA movement described as right-wing populists: "Well, I don't see (the UK's Reform leader Nigel Farage) as dangerous at all ... the MAGA movement, they're just conservatives, and they're deciding now whether Trump's in them or not ... Then [2027 French presidential hopeful Marine] Le Pen... I suppose Le Pen is slightly to the right but, you know, tolerable."
But the AfD?
"Oooh, that starts to ring alarm bells for me," Barnaby said.
"Why would it do that? Because I have a family who fought against the fascists.
"We are very aware of what fascism does; it's a disgusting, horrendous thing, and it's got nothing to do with One Nation or anything I would be involved with."
Thousands of people across Germany have protested against the AfD since Sunday's election.
Protesters carried banners with slogans including "Fascism is not an alternative" and "Stop AfD Nazis! End racism and social cuts," while crowds chanted: "All together against fascism!"
— With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press
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