International
The German far-right approves an electoral program with promises of “remigration” and exit from the euro
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party approved this Sunday an electoral program that includes promises of border closure and “remigration”, as well as exit from the euro and reintroduction of compulsory military service, at a time when the polls give it its best results in a year and place it as the second force in the elections of February 23.
After long debates, the program was unanimously approved on the second day of the federal congress held this weekend in Riesa (east Germany), where on Saturday the AfD co-leader, Alice Weidel, was officially nominated as a candidate for the chancellor’s office.
“We are getting stronger,” Weidel exclaimed at the end of the congress, before the German national anthem sounded.
Unlike the initial draft, the program approved today includes the controversial term “remigration”, coined by right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis to denote the massive expulsion of migrants and people with foreign roots, after Weidel – who until now had avoided it – used it publicly yesterday.
AfD officially maintains that with “remigration” it alludes only to the expulsion by legal means of migrants in an irregular situation, but in its circles the use of the term in the first sense is frequent, together with racist iconography.
The programme promises, among other things, the closure of borders to migrants and asylum seekers, a large-scale “deportation offensive” of people in an irregular situation, the withdrawal from the European asylum system and the acquisition of German nationality only for children of German parents and extraordinary cases.
In addition, it contains the ban on the construction of minarets in Germany and the use of the Islamic veil in public buildings.
The AfD also maintains its project to abandon the euro, although it does not explicitly demand the exit from the EU, but proposes to transform it or replace it with an “alliance of European nations” with a common market and that in the long term represents an alternative to NATO for the defense of the continent.
The program also promises to lift sanctions on Russia and re-import gas from that country, while delegates rejected a motion to include a condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A motion to include the reintroduction of compulsory military service was also approved at the last minute, against the wishes of co-leader Tino Chrupalla, who strives to profile the AfD as a “peace party.”
Despite the fact that candidate Weidel has another woman as a partner, with whom she is a mother of two children, the delegates voted in favor of including in the program that the family composed of “father, mother and children” is the basic cell of society.
They also spoke out against the mandatory measles vaccination for school-age children in force in Germany.
Finally, the congress approved the foundation of a new youth organization integrated within the party, after tensions grew with the Alternative Youth (JA), which was classified as extremist by the German authorities in 2023.
Between 21 and 22%
According to the most recent polls, AfD enjoys its highest popularity in a year, with an increase of two points in the last month to 21-22% in voting intention.
The formation, which is receiving the explicit support of tycoon Elon Musk, an ally of US president-elect Donald Trump, would thus be the second force behind the Christian Democratic bloc of Friedrich Merz, which is at 30%.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s social democrats and his green government partners are currently competing for third place with values between 13 and 16%, while the Liberals and the populist left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) Alliance could stay below the 5% threshold for parliamentary representation.
Central America
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, representing the state of Maryland, held a meeting in El Salvador with deported MS-13 gang member Kilmar Ábrego García, a member of the criminal group classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.
“Kilmar Ábrego García, miraculously resurrected from the ‘extermination camps’ and ‘torture chambers,’ now sipping margaritas with Senator Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” wrote President Nayib Bukeleon X (formerly Twitter), sharing photos of Van Hollen, Ábrego García, and a lawyer sitting together at a Salvadoran hotel.
The deported gang member is seen wearing a plaid shirt and a flat-brimmed cap, seated at a table with glasses and coffee cups. The senator also shared images of the meeting on his own social media accounts.
Bukele reaffirmed that Ábrego will remain in El Salvador and will not be returned to the United States.
“Now that his health has been confirmed, he has earned the honor of remaining under the custody of El Salvador,” Bukele added.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the senator’s meeting with Ábrego on Truth Social, calling Van Hollen “a fool” for advocating for Ábrego’s return to the U.S.
International
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Pope Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Easter Sunday and, with a faint voice, wished a “Happy Easter” to the thousands of faithful gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.
A month after being discharged from a lengthy hospital stay, the presence of the 88-year-old pontiff had remained uncertain, with the Vatican not confirming his attendance ahead of time.
Eventually, the pope made a brief appearance in a wheelchair shortly after 12:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT) to deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (“to the city and to the world”).
Although no longer wearing an oxygen cannula, the Argentine Jesuit relied on a close aide to read his Easter message, which touched on major global conflicts.
Francis condemned the “dramatic and unworthy humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, while also expressing concern over the “growing climate of antisemitism spreading across the globe.”
He further emphasized the importance of religious freedom and freedom of thought, stating that without mutual respect, “peace is not possible.”
International
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday (April 19, 2025) in major cities like New York and Washington, as well as in small communities across the United States, in a second wave of demonstrations against President Donald Trump. The crowds denounced what they view as growing threats to the country’s democratic ideals.
In New York City, demonstrators of all ages rallied in front of the Public Library near Trump Tower, holding signs accusing the president of undermining democratic institutions and judicial independence.
Many protesters also criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including mass deportations and raids targeting undocumented migrants.
“Democracy is in grave danger,” said Kathy Valyi, 73, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She told AFP that the stories her parents shared about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany “are happening here now.”
In Washington, demonstrators voiced concern over what they see as Trump’s disregard for long-standing constitutional norms, such as the right to due process.
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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