Official coalition announcements from the German government or major news outlets

Alice Weidel Elected AfD Chancellor Candidate in Riesa Amid Protests, Emphasizes Freedom of Speech

Jan 11, 2025, 11:00 AM

Alice Weidel has been unanimously elected as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's candidate for chancellor at their federal party conference in Riesa, Saxony. The conference, attended by 600 delegates, began over two hours late due to protests by opponents blocking access routes. During the event, Weidel thanked Elon Musk for streaming the conference, emphasizing the party's stance on freedom of speech. She promised to close Germany's borders to irregular immigration and to implement mass deportations of asylum seekers, using the term 're-migration' without hesitation. Weidel also pledged to dismantle wind turbines, which she referred to as 'windmills of shame,' and to abolish gender studies programs. The AfD's support has risen to 22% according to recent polls, bringing them closer to the Union, which leads with 30%. Despite this, Weidel's chances of becoming chancellor are slim as other parties refuse to form a coalition with the AfD.