BERLIN – For the first time in its 11-year history, Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will nominate a chancellor candidate on Saturday, as the party positions itself for a snap election set for February. The AfD, which has surged to second place in opinion polls behind the opposition conservatives and well ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), is expected to choose co-leader Alice Weidel for the role.
While the AfD’s anti-immigration and anti-EU stance has drawn criticism, and mainstream parties have refused to collaborate with it, the party’s rising popularity is challenging the political landscape. Recent electoral successes have raised pressure on the conservatives to reconsider their stance against partnering with the AfD, particularly as their traditional ally, the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP), has weakened.
AfD’s potential rise mirrors the growing influence of far-right parties across Europe, as seen in Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland. Political scientist Hans Vorlaender of Dresden Technical University highlighted the AfD’s ambitions: “Nominating a chancellor candidate signals a claim to power and ensures media visibility.”
Weidel: An Unconventional Choice
At 45, Alice Weidel is an unconventional leader for the male-dominated AfD, which emphasizes traditional family values. She is raising two sons with her Sri Lankan-born partner and has a background in economics, having worked for Goldman Sachs and Allianz. Analysts believe her profile may appeal to moderate voters wary of far-right ideologies.
Despite scandals, including a controversial comment by a senior member defending elements of the Nazi SS, the AfD has gained traction by addressing immigration concerns, economic uncertainties, and frustrations with the ruling coalition.
The party advocates curbing immigration, halting arms deliveries to Ukraine, rebuilding relations with Russia, reactivating nuclear power plants, and pushing for EU reforms or withdrawal. Recent polls place the AfD at 17%, trailing the conservatives at 33% but ahead of the SPD (15%) and Greens (14%).
With membership surging by 50% in the past year to 50,600, the AfD is positioning itself as a force to reckon with in German politics. While a governing coalition remains unlikely, the party’s growing influence challenges the dominance of Germany’s traditional political powers.