Alice Weidel says AfD is targeting 40% in Germany’s next federal election

Alice Weidel says the Alternative for Germany is setting its sights on at least 40% in the next federal election, while expecting Germans to return to the polls earlier than scheduled.

“My declared goal is to significantly increase this lead in a very short time and achieve at least 40 percent support in the next federal election,” Weidel said. She also predicted that Chancellor Friedrich Merz would be replaced before Christmas, following an early Bundestag election.

The AfD is currently the strongest party in nationwide polling cited in the article. An Insa poll in September put it at 28%, eight percentage points ahead of the CDU/CSU bloc. The party’s victory in Sunday’s election in Saxony-Anhalt was even stronger, with 43.8% of the vote.

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My declared goal is to significantly increase this lead in a very short time and achieve at least 40 percent support in the next federal election.

The result prompted German media to describe the election as a turning point for democracy, a political earthquake and a final warning to Merz. The AfD won across all age groups and recorded its biggest lead over the CDU among younger voters.

Despite its victory, the party does not hold a majority of seats in Saxony-Anhalt. It plans to try to form a government by persuading individual lawmakers from other parties to support it. If successful, it would form a state-level government for the first time in its history.

Cooperation with the left-wing BSW is considered possible. The party cleared the 5% threshold and will have five lawmakers in Magdeburg. Thomas Schulze, its lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, said he was open to talks with every side and would not join efforts to isolate the AfD. “For me, the AfD is a party that 44 percent of people here voted for. I have to take that into account, that is democracy,” he said.

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For me, the AfD is a party that 44 percent of people here voted for. I have to take that into account, that is democracy.