Staff Writer Katharina Kayser analyses how the AfD’s Alice Weidel’s candidacy for German Chancellor represents a recent wave of European far-right parties being led by female politicians.

While other countries were enjoying their holiday break from daily political drama, in Germany, the period was far from restful as the country prepared itseld for the upcoming February 2025 elections. Campaigning is now in full swing with all major parties nominating their candidate for chancellor.

Olaf Scholz, the current head of government, for the Socialist Democratic Party (SPD), Friedrich Merz for the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), Robert Habeck for the Greens and Alice Weidel for the Alternative for Germany (AfD). All candidates are popular figureheads in their parties and thus their candidacy is not surprising.

Yet, for the first time since its establishment in 2013, the AfD has their own candidate. Given their voter popularity this is not surprising. What is surprisisng is who the AFD chose: a female candidate.

Read more at: https://roarnews.co.uk/2025/the-rise-of-far-right-female-leaders-true-equality-or-purely-strategy/