One of the two main leaders of Germany’s right-wing party made newspaper headlines on September 11 over suggestions that the racist word “völkisch” should be destigmatised, despite its heavy Nazi connotations.

In an interview with the Sunday edition of the newspaper Die Welt, Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-chair Frauke Petry called for revaluing the term “völkisch”.

As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, Petry said: “It's unacceptable to reduce the word ...