Overview

• Söder frames his networked outreach as a direct contest against the AfD, arguing democratic forces must compete where radical voices are most active
• He reports generating roughly 306 million online contacts in the first half of 2025, with a content mix of 70 percent political messaging and 30 percent personal posts
• Söder rejects accusations of populism by distinguishing his authentic, mainstream-aligned approach from manipulative mass appeals
• Green leader Ricarda Lang praises his entertainment-driven style for boosting engagement but warns that boundary-pushing irreverence could undermine his prospects for higher office
• Statista data show the AfD leading on Facebook and TikTok followings, the Union ahead on Twitter and the Linkspartei topping Instagram in late July