Von der Leyen criticises European far right for being ‘Putin’s proxies’

Commission president, who is seeking another term, took aim at group that includes AfD and National Rally in pre-election debate

The European Commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen, has criticised the far right as Putin's proxies", while refusing to rule out working with other rightwing nationalists, as campaigning began ahead of June's European elections.

Von der Leyen is seeking a second five-year term leading the commission, in the looming reshuffle of EU top jobs that follows the European elections.