Origins of the Party and First Political Engagement
Alice Weidel is associated with the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a populist right-wing party born in 2013. It emerged in a context of distrust towards the European Union and the euro. However, the AfD quickly shifted towards more radical positions. Far-right, sovereignty, and anti-immigration rhetoric became its hallmarks. Shortly after its creation, it attracted discontented voters, often from regions of the former East Germany. Thus, electoral results confirm a strong foothold in areas where the economic crisis and identity concerns are more pronounced.
Alice Weidel, an economist by training, joined this party after a brief stint with the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Additionally, she worked in the banking sector for Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, and Allianz Global Investors. Her time abroad, notably in China and the United States, enhanced her language skills and understanding of global markets. Thus, she appears as a unique voice in a political landscape accustomed to more conventional figures.
A Surprising Path and a Neoliberal Stance
Alice Weidel was born in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1979. She grew up in a privileged environment that offered her access to higher education. After earning a doctorate in economics, she turned to finance. Lesbian and residing in Switzerland, she outwardly presents as a modern bourgeois. However, she advocates for ultraconservative principles on social and migration issues.
Her program advocates for marked economic deregulation. Additionally, she supports massive tax cuts to boost growth and encourage private investment. Inspired by Margaret Thatcher, she values individual initiative and competitiveness. This blend of neoliberalism and national conservatism appeals to some voters who distrust Brussels elites. Thus, the AfD gains ground by capitalizing on fears of economic decline and rejection of European Union policies.
The Outbreak of the Migration Crisis and the Radicalization of Discourse
The 2015 migration crisis amplifies the AfD’s progress. It unites an electorate worried about the massive arrival of refugees from the Middle East. Alice Weidel takes advantage of this climate to assert a particularly aggressive stance. She calls for “remigration”, a slogan advocating for the expulsion or voluntary return of people of foreign origin. Thus, she aligns with the European populist right, like Viktor Orbán in Hungary or Marine Le Pen in France.
Direct Opposition to Ecology and Questioning of Climate Consensus
At the same time, Alice Weidel attacks ecological policies deemed too restrictive. She demands the removal of energy taxes and advocates for a massive return to nuclear power. Her party labels measures to combat climate change as “ideological dogma.” Thus, it encourages the contestation of decisions made in Berlin or Brussels.
The AfD’s climate skepticism strengthens its ties with certain industrial and financial groups. For her part, Alice Weidel sees it as an electoral asset. However, several experts highlight the danger of this discourse. It undermines the energy transition and promotes rapid growth without environmental consideration.
Political Rise and Apparent Normalization
In 2017, Alice Weidel was elected as a member of parliament and became co-chair of the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Additionally, she became co-chair of the party in 2022, alongside Tino Chrupalla. Her skills as an orator and her incisive style open up television platforms for her. Thus, she appears as one of the main faces of the German far-right.
Personal Paradoxes and Internal Controversies
Despite this desire for respectability, Alice Weidel raises questions about her own contradictions. Lesbian and in a relationship with a woman of Sri Lankan origin, she raises two children in Switzerland, far from the natalist demands advocated by the AfD. Thus, she symbolizes a form of double discourse: assumed modernity and strict conservatism.
Within the party, she faces the most radical wing, led by Björn Höcke. She had called for his exclusion in 2017. However, internal balances force her to work with him. Recently, she even conceded that he would make “a good minister.” This rapprochement indicates an even harder line. Additionally, investigations into the AfD’s financing and suspicions of illegal donations weaken her leadership.
Prospects for Evolution and Outlook on the Future
Despite its growing electoral weight, the AfD remains excluded from federal governance. Other parties maintain this cordon sanitaire. Additionally, the German constitution provides for the monitoring of formations suspected of undermining the democratic order. Some security agencies closely observe the AfD. Thus, the party advances cautiously to avoid a ban that would end its rise.
In a changing political landscape, Alice Weidel has managed to impose her theses and challenge the major parties. However, questions remain about the solidity of this dynamic. Judicial investigations, state surveillance, and competition from other nationalist right-wing parties may hinder its rise. Thus, the future of the AfD and Weidel‘s place in German politics remain uncertain. Yet, it is clear that her voice weighs on debates today and influences a part of public opinion.
