Germany’s far-right party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), has made significant electoral gains, becoming the second-largest party in the Bundestag. Led by openly lesbian politician Alice Weidel, so far, the AfD has secured around 20.2% of the vote, marking a significant shift in Germany’s political landscape.
The conservative CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, took the top spot with 28.8% of the vote. However, despite the AfD’s rise, Merz has firmly ruled out forming a coalition with them, citing the party’s hardline policies and extremist associations.
Alice Weidel, who has co-led the AfD since 2017, celebrated the result, calling the party a “mainstream” force and expressing a desire to be part of the government. Weidel, who lives in Switzerland with her partner— a woman of Sri Lankan heritage—has faced criticism for championing conservative family values while being in a same-sex relationship. Her leadership highlights the complexities of LGBTQ+ figures in right-wing politics, where personal identity and party ideology often clash.
The AfD’s rise has been fuelled by public frustration over immigration policies, economic struggles, and concerns about violent crime. The party has capitalised on these issues, positioning itself as the voice of those demanding stricter border controls and rejecting establishment politics.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) suffered a crushing defeat, securing just 16% of the vote—their worst performance since World War II. This reflects a broader shift in German politics, with traditional centrist parties losing support to both right-wing and alternative movements.
As the CDU/CSU works to form a coalition government, potential partners include the SPD and the Greens. However, their collective refusal to engage with the AfD underscores the difficulties of forming a stable administration. Merz has stressed the need for strong leadership to address economic and geopolitical challenges while countering the influence of the far-right.
The AfD’s rise under Weidel marks a dramatic shift in German politics, reflecting deepening divisions over immigration, national identity, and economic policy. As coalition talks unfold, the reaction of mainstream parties to Weidel’s growing influence will play a critical role in shaping Germany’s political future.
