Who Are Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla? The AFD Leaders Explained
Summary
Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are the national leaders of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Their party won 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's recent elections, making the AfD the strongest political force in that state, ahead of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which won 17.2%.Key Facts
- The AfD's strong showing in Saxony-Anhalt marks the first time a far-right party has nearly controlled a German state since World War II.
- Alice Weidel has been AfD co-chairwoman since June 2022 and has a background in economics and banking.
- Weidel admires policies of low taxes, welfare cuts, and privatization, inspired by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
- Weidel joined AfD in 2013 because of its opposition to the European Union (Euroskepticism).
- Tino Chrupalla, co-chair since 2019, was a house painter turned construction company owner before entering politics.
- Both leaders represent the party’s anti-immigration platform, which will influence coalition talks in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Weidel lives partly in Switzerland with her partner and two adopted children, which is unusual for a leader of the conservative AfD.
- The AfD’s future role in governing Saxony-Anhalt is uncertain despite its election success.
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