Overview

• Alice Weidel was formally announced as the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party's first-ever chancellor candidate for the 2025 German federal election, emphasizing a nationalist campaign slogan, 'Zeit für Deutschland' (Time for Germany).
• The announcement has provoked widespread backlash, with critics highlighting the party's far-right policies, including anti-migrant rhetoric, calls for an EU exit (Dexit), and climate change denial.
• Protests erupted outside the AfD headquarters in Berlin, with demonstrators condemning the party's extremist ideology and its normalization in German politics.
• Weidel, previously criticized for racist statements and a leaked email with conspiracy-laden rhetoric, faces scrutiny over her attempts to present a more moderate image despite her alignment with radical factions within the AfD.
• Political analysts and economic experts warn that the AfD's proposed policies, including leaving the EU and Eurozone, could lead to severe economic consequences for Germany, including deindustrialization and job losses.