Klopp says Germany must reclaim national pride from 'wrong people'
BERLIN: Germany coach Juergen Klopp said on Thursday that he wanted to reclaim expressions of national pride from the “wrong people,” in remarks widely seen as a rebuke to the far right after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) won an election this month. Speaking at a news conference to unveil a 44-man split squad for upcoming Nations League matches, Klopp said Germans should feel able to express…
Germany's national football coach, Jürgen Klopp, called on the nation to reclaim expressions of pride from the "wrong people" in remarks seen as a rebuke to the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Speaking at a news conference, Klopp urged Germans to feel comfortable expressing their national pride without association to extremism.
"I don’t want to leave national pride to the wrong people," he said. The AfD triumphed in a recent election in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially forming Germany's first far-right state government in postwar history. Klopp, keen to avoid mentioning the AfD by name, said he wanted to "reclaim the flag," so that when it's waved, people understand "you are happy and realize how lucky you were to be born, grow up, or move to this wonderful country."
The AfD party spokesperson indicated they would release a statement later on Thursday. Klopp, wearing an Adidas cap in German flag colors, acknowledged the sensitivity around patriotism in Germany. He preferred the term "positive patriotism" over "national pride," emphasizing that one can still be proud of being German while being open, diverse, and compassionate.
Chancellor Merz's Christian Democrat secretary Franziska Hoppermann welcomed Klopp's call, stating that everyone should and is allowed to wear national symbols with pride and confidence as symbols of freedom.
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