AfD elects Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor
At its party conference in Riesa in the German state of Saxony, the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), parts of which are categorised as far right, has chosen Alice Weidel as its chancellor candidate. In her closing speech Weidel called for borders to be closed, gender studies to be abolished and wind turbines to be pulled down. The controversial term "remigration" was included in the party's election programme. Commentators see a radicalisation.
They are serious about all this
The party is becoming increasingly radical, the Tagesspiegel fears:
“Weidel's words: 'The German borders are closed. They - are - closed!' And: 'When it's called remigration, then that's what it means: re-mi-gra-tion.' And all in a tone that portends dark times should the AfD really come to power. The slogan about remigration unchains the radical right. The AfDers no longer simply exchange extremist opinions among themselves, they voice them openly. They are serious – that far too many immigrants are being taken in here; that they are not integrating sufficiently or quickly enough so they must be shown the door. And they will practice what they preach. If they can.”
Farewell to ‘moderation’
Is Weidel now moving closer to the AfD's more radical wing? La Repubblica asks:
“The AfD has included the controversial term 'remigration' in its programme, which the newly-elected chancellor candidate Alice Weidel had long rejected. Now she is no longer even shocked when turquoise (the AfD's colour) hearts bearing the slogan 'Alice for Germany' – which in German sounds similar to the slogan of the Nazi SA stormtroopers 'Everything for Germany' – are distributed in the Sachsen Arena near Dresden. That slogan earned Björn Hoecke, the leader of the radical faction who was at the centre of many disputes during the two days of the AfD congress, a conviction by a German court. ... Did he win or lose in his eternal duel with the 'moderate' Weidel?”
No unconditional backing
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung sees Weidel facing an uphill battle in view of the different currents within her party:
“Unlike former CDU leader Angela Merkel in her heyday, Weidel cannot unreservedly dictate the party line despite her unanimous nomination. Her economic liberalism is diametrically opposed to the statist leanings of Björn Höcke and the party's eastern German members. While Weidel can rely on Musk to support her in her election campaign, the Brandenburg AfD is extremely sceptical vis-à-vis the Tesla boss's gigafactory. She couldn't even quell her party colleagues' infatuation with Putin, which has been expressed through regular trips to Russia. ... For Weidel, the differences over policies are likely to make the election campaign a difficult balancing act.”
A strange contradiction
Corriere della Sera is surprised by Weidel's success with the far right:
“Alice Weidel has given the AfD what it lacked: a face and figure capable of presenting itself as a modern, TikTok-friendly leader. Here, however, is where the questions begin: what exactly is behind this fascination that Weidel exerts on the far right and beyond?... And above all, how can a lesbian woman who has two children with her Sri Lankan partner and who, moreover, resides in Switzerland, be a hero of the ultra-nationalist party? How can this woman who breaks both the taboo of the traditional family and that of migrants have conquered its leadership?”