For the first time, the AfD wants to nominate a candidate for chancellor in a federal election: the party leadership nominated Alice Weidel on Saturday afternoon. The confirmation by the party congress in January is considered a mere formality. The AfD has no real chance of becoming chancellor due to the lack of possible government partners.
Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD faction in the Bundestag, will lead her party as its candidate for chancellor in the next federal elections. According to participants in Berlin, the AfD’s federal board and state chairmen unanimously agreed to nominate the 45-year-old for election at the party conference in Riesa in January. The confirmation there is considered a formality.
AfD is in second place in polls in Germany
It is the first time in the party’s almost twelve-year history that a candidate for chancellor has been appointed. At the launch, Weidel spoke of a “big day” for her company. Co-party leader Tino Chrupalla made a similar statement.
Alice Weidel sees the AfD’s current polls as a mandate from the government and is using them to justify her candidacy for chancellor. With 18 to 19 percent in national surveys, the AfD is currently behind the Union, which has 32 to 33 percent. Despite these figures, Weidel’s candidacy remains largely symbolic, as there is no foreseeable majority for an AfD-led government in the Bundestag. In Germany, similar to the situation in Austria with the FPÖ, there is a consensus between the parties to rule out a coalition with the AfD. All established parties categorically reject cooperation with the right-wing populist AfD.
“Anyone who votes for the AfD is voting for the Nazis!”
On Saturday morning, demonstrators gathered in front of the AfD headquarters in Berlin to protest against the nomination of Alice Weidel as candidate for chancellor. The participants, organized by a coalition of civil society groups, carried posters with messages such as ‘Never again fascism’, ‘Whoever votes for the AfD is now voting for the Nazis!’ This action highlighted the controversial public perception of the party and its top candidate.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
