Weidel’s nomination was confirmed on Saturday at the start of the party’s two-day convention in Riesa, in the eastern state of Saxony, a region that has become a stronghold for the anti-immigrant party.
This marks the first time in AfD’s history that it is vying for potential chancellorship by nominating an official candidate.
However, Weidel’s prospects of becoming Germany’s next leader remain slim, as other German parties have ruled out cooperating with the far-right populists.
Polls put AfD in second place ahead of the
February 23 election, with 20% support, trailing behind the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) with 31% of support, but ahead of the mainstream left-wing Social Democrats (SPD), who enjoy only 15% of support.
CDU’s leader
Friedrich Merz is tipped as the favorite to succeed Olaf Scholz as Germany’s next chancellor. Scholz was also announced as his party’s candidate for the post which he has held since 2021, on Saturday, but the announcement was overshadowed by Weidel’s candidacy and the violence that accompanied her party’s congress.
Thousands protest against AfD
AfD’s convention in Riesa faced disruption on Saturday, as protests broke out near the venue, forcing the nationalist party’s event to start two hours behind schedule.
The convention was set to begin at 10 a.m. (local time) but was delayed after demonstrators protesting against the far-right party blocked key roads into the town.
Some of AfD’s politicians were only able to get to the political event with a police escort, and AfD’s leader’s car was briefly held up by the crowd, dpa news agency reported.
According to the police, around 10,000 people came to the demonstration, which turned violent after some attempted to jump over barriers surrounding the venue where the convention is taking place.
Police used pepper spray against the protestors.
