But the AfD’s leader, Alice Weidel, intends to become Germany’s chancellor in the election after that, which is due 2029. In the meantime it is reshaping German politics. Ms Weidel’s charisma alone does not explain the AfD’s rise—indeed she is an uninspiring speaker.

From left, activists wearing masks of German far-right chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, Elon Musk, President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Vice President JD Vance protest the U.S. and Russia’s support for the German far-right AfD party at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

The Christian Democrats won with 28.6% of the vote while the far-right Alternative for Germany came second with 20.8%.

Four candidates are running to be Germany’s next leader: incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Friedrich Merz, current Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, and Alice Weidel, of the far-right AfD.

The Alternative for Germany still has pariah status among other major political parties in a country where far-right politics has long carried a stigma because of the Nazi past.

ISENBURG, Germany (Reuters) - "Alice fuer Deutschland" (Alice for Germany) chanted supporters as far-right leader Alice Weidel addressed an election rally outside Germany's financial centre Frankfurt,

As an openly gay politician who lives with her Sri Lanka-born partner in Switzerland, Alice Weidel was an unusual choice to many to lead Germany's far-right and anti-immigration AfD into

A carnival float depicts German far-right politician Alice Weidel and far-left politician Sahra Wagenknecht with flowers for Putin at the presentation of this year's satirical carnival floats for the

Alice Weidel, centre left, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), is surrounded by journalists after a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, the day after

An election poster showing AfD top candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel is fixed on a lamp pole in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

From left, Activists wearing masks of AfD top candidate for Chancellor Alice Weidel, Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Vice President JD Vance, protest