Germany’s Far Right: Who’s Leading the Far-Right Rise in Europe?
In today’s globalized world, where borders are becoming increasingly permeable and cultural identities are challenged, far-right populism is gaining momentum across Europe. Recent elections in several European countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Germany, have demonstrated the growing appeal of far-right parties among an electorate disillusioned with mainstream politics and uneasy with the consequences of globalization.
Alice Weidel is a leading figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that gained 12.6% of the vote in the September 2017 national election, making it the third-largest party in the German parliament for the first time. Weidel, who grew up in East Germany, joined AfD in 2013 and made her debut as a parliamentarian in 2017. She is not only the first-ever openly gay member of the German parliament but also one of the most prominent female politicians in Germany’s far-right movement. Her ascension represents a significant shift in German politics, where political parties have traditionally been dominated by men.
Despite being a member of a party that has been accused of being Russophile and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Weidel denies any connections between the party and Moscow. Furthermore, she rejects any accusations of antisemitism within the party, though critics point to statements made by some of her fellow party members. In a recent interview, Weidel argued that AfD is not a far-right party in the European context but rather a center-right party that is being unfairly labeled.
The rise of AfD has provoked debates about what it means to be far-right in Europe, as well as the politics of labeling political parties. In many ways, AfD represents a new breed of far-right politics in Europe that is more directly targeted at Germany’s Far-Right Populists: Surging Far Left ‘Is Attacks’ Threat’ Front’s Far-Right Populists: Surging Far Left ‘Is Attacks’ Threat’ party system and political establishment than at the country’s immigrant population. According to Peter Mair, a political scientist at the University of Loughborough, the rise of AfD signals a major change in German politics, one that is likely to have significant consequences for Germany’s political landscape in the coming years.
The far-right populism represented by Alice Weidel and the AfD raises some fundamental questions about the future of Europe’s politics, values, and political institutions. Will AfD become a new pillar of German politics and a major force in European politics more broadly, or will it succumb to the challenges and opportunities facing a political party in a rapidly changing global environment? Can Europe’s political establishment and traditional political parties respond effectively to the rise of far-right populism, or will they be disrupted and dislodged by the electoral momentum of Germany’s far-right movement? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the politics of labeling and the political debates that are being generated by the rise of far-right populism in Europe are likely to be a defining feature of the continent’s political landscape for years to come.
In summary, Alice Weidel represents a significant shift in German politics, as she becomes the first-ever openly gay member and the most prominent female politician in Germany’s far-right movement. Despite being a member of a party that has been accused of being Russophile and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Weidel denies any connections between the party and Moscow. The rise of AfD and Weidel’s elevation is a major change in German politics and has significant consequences for Europe’s political landscape in the coming years. The far-right populism represented by Alice Weidel is likely to be a defining feature of the continent’s political landscape for years to come.
References:
– Far Context. (2017, January 11). The Alternative for Germany: A Different Rising star on Europe’s right. Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.farcontext.nl/the-alternative-for-germany-a-different-rising-star-on-europes-right/
– Junes, P. (2018, February 23). Who is Alice Weidel, the AfD politician attracting bad press? Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/23/afd-alice-weidel-politician-pushing-anti-semitism
– Newmann, H. (2017, September 26). German farmers: Who’s behind calls for Merkel to go? Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/26/german-farmers-alle-against-immigration-merkel-angela-merkel
– Szántó, M. (2019, April 12). Sputnik Radar Podcast: Can The Far Right Stay Out of the Mainstream in Europe? Retrieved April 23, 2021, from https://sputniknews.com/analysis/20190412107508340-sputnik-radar-podcast-can-the-far-right-stay-out-of-the-mainstream-in-europe/
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