Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has emerged as a controversial figure ahead of Germany’s federal elections.
Meet Alice Weidel, the woman touted as Europe’s version of Donald Trump
Known for her nationalist rhetoric and hardline stance on immigration, Weidel has positioned herself as a populist leader, drawing comparisons to figures like former US President Donald Trump.
Weidel, 45, is an economist and former Goldman Sachs employee who has steadily gained influence within Germany’s political sphere. Despite being in a same-sex relationship, she leads a party that has traditionally opposed LGBTQ+ rights, embodying contradictions that have fuelled both support and criticism.
In recent weeks, Weidel has made headlines for her meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a staunch nationalist who has promoted policies aimed at curbing immigration.
Her visit to Budapest is a clear indication of the AfD’s broader agenda—pushing for Germany to close its borders, roll back European Union influence, and promote “remigration,” a term widely seen as advocating for mass deportations of people with migrant backgrounds.
What is her key political messaging?
Weidel has made several bold policy proposals in her campaign, many of which align with the far-right’s broader goals:
- Mass Deportations: She has openly embraced the term “remigration,” which critics argue is a euphemism for expelling non-German residents, including those with legal status.
- Exit from the EU and Eurozone: Weidel and the AfD propose dismantling the European Union’s influence over Germany and reintroducing the Deutsche mark as the national currency.
- Energy Policy Rollbacks: The party wants to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and end the country’s transition to renewable energy, calling wind farms “windmills of shame.”
- Russia Relations: AfD has called for restoring economic ties with Russia, including resuming the purchase of Russian gas despite ongoing sanctions.
Her campaign also thrives on culture war issues, opposing gender studies in universities and denouncing “woke” ideologies.
Everything you must know about the upcoming German federal elections
Germany’s federal elections are set for 23 February 2025, with the AfD currently polling in second place at around 20%, trailing behind the conservative CDU/CSU bloc.
Despite its growing support, the AfD remains isolated as mainstream German parties have ruled out forming coalitions with it. Furthermore, sections of the party have been classified as right-wing extremists by German intelligence, raising concerns over its potential governance.
Weidel’s campaign has received an unexpected boost from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who recently invited her for a live discussion on X (formerly Twitter).
During the conversation, she controversially claimed that Adolf Hitler was actually a communist, sparking outrage and accusations of historical revisionism.
The upcoming election is being watched closely across Europe, as a strong AfD performance could further the rise of far-right politics on the continent.
However, given the party’s political isolation, Weidel’s path to actual governance remains uncertain.
