Germany's far-right AfD names its first Chancellor candidate
The Straits Times|December 09, 2024
AfD nominated Dr Alice Weidel, who speaks fluent Mandarin, having done her PhD in economics in China
Germany's far-right AfD names its first Chancellor candidate

BERLIN - The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Dec 7 nominated co-leader Alice Weidel as its first chancellor candidate in the party's 11-year history, setting out its bid for power ahead of a snap election due in February 2025.

The party is not likely to form part of a governing coalition anytime soon because other parties have ruled out working with it, despite ranking second in opinion polls behind the main opposition conservatives.

But a string of state electoral successes by the AfD are increasing pressure on the conservatives in particular to drop their firewall to the party and consider a right-wing coalition, especially given the weakness of their erstwhile traditional partner, the neo-liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP).

This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

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