Robert Sighiartău responds to Alice Weidel: “Romanians are not plundering Germany; they are contributing to its prosperity”

PNL Deputy Robert Sighiartău told Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on Tuesday that Romanians in the diaspora must not be turned into political targets and that they are not second-class European citizens. The reaction came after Weidel's statements claiming that more and more migrants from Romania were abusing the German social welfare system.

Sighiartău argued that nearly one million Romanian citizens live in Germany, with hundreds of thousands of them working legally, paying taxes and contributions, and contributing to the country's economy. The deputy highlighted the contribution of Romanians in various fields, from doctors and engineers to workers and entrepreneurs, as well as the efforts of parents raising their children through hard work and sacrifice.

The PNL leader stated that any social welfare fraud should be investigated and punished, but rejected the generalization and labeling of an entire community. “Romanians are not looting Germany. Romanians work and contribute to Germany's prosperity!” he wrote on Facebook.

USR President Dominic Fritz also asked Alice Weidel to apologize for her statements concerning Romanians and the German social welfare system. The disagreement comes amid debates on migration and access to social benefits in Germany.