Had placed second in the elections: Coalition message from the leader of the AfD party

In the general elections held in Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party significantly increased its vote share, placing second with 20 percent. This success of the AfD, which nearly doubled its votes compared to the previous elections, has been interpreted as a development that could shift the balance in the country's politics.

AfD's chancellor candidate Alice Weidel described the election results as a "historic success," stating, "This is the best result we have achieved so far. We are extending our hand to realize the will of the people."

COALITION CALL

Expressing her desire to form a government with the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) alliance, which came in first in the elections, Weidel said, "We are ready to form a coalition with the CDU/CSU. The election results show that voters want this alliance."

However, CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz is not expected to cooperate with the AfD. Acknowledging this situation, Weidel stated, "If the CDU/CSU forms a coalition with the SPD and the Greens, it will be impossible for them to fulfill their promises. But if they do not work with us, the AfD will become Germany's most powerful political movement in the coming years."

Political analysts, on the other hand, do not see it as possible for the CDU/CSU to form a partnership with the AfD and predict that the AfD will remain in opposition despite its electoral success.

WHO IS ALICE WEIDEL?

The 46-year-old Alice Weidel, who has been seen as the "face of far-right populism" in Germany in recent years, was born in 1979 in the city of Gütersloh. Weidel, who studied economics and business administration at the University of Bayreuth, worked at various large companies and completed her doctorate on China's pension system.

Weidel became a member of the AfD eight months after its founding in October 2013 and was elected as a federal member of parliament in the 2017 general elections. Weidel, who has served as co-chair of the AfD Parliamentary Group since that date, has been the party's co-chair alongside Tino Chrupalla since 2022.

As the AfD's first chancellor candidate, Weidel draws attention particularly with her anti-immigrant rhetoric.

WEIDEL'S NAZI PAST

Weidel says she takes former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her role model. However, research conducted in the past regarding her family revealed that her grandfather, Hans Weidel, was a member of the SS (Schutzstaffel) in Nazi Germany and served as a military judge during the Hitler era.

Weidel claimed that she had no contact with her grandfather and had no knowledge of his past.

Weidel's private life is also frequently a subject of debate. Weidel, who is in a same-sex relationship with Sri Lankan film producer Sarah Bossard, lives in both Germany and Switzerland.

While the AfD pursues a conservative policy against same-sex marriage and adoption by LGBT individuals, Weidel and Bossard are raising two adopted children together. Despite the AfD's defense of traditional family values, the contradictions within the party due to Weidel's private life are brought to the agenda. However, Weidel argues that this situation does not create any conflict.

RUSSIA POLICY

Weidel criticizes Germany's sanctions against Russia, arguing that these policies benefit neither Russia nor Ukraine and only harm the German economy.

Stating that the Russia-Ukraine War "does not concern Germany," Weidel expresses that Berlin should not be a party to this conflict. Emphasizing the importance of a possible peace process, Weidel believes that former US President Donald Trump could mediate on this issue.

WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE OF THE AfD?

The success achieved by the AfD in the election has revealed the rise of the far-right in Germany. However, since it is considered unlikely that the CDU/CSU will cooperate with the AfD, Weidel and her party will most likely remain as the main opposition party.