Co-chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, has predicted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will lose his position before the end of 2026.
Weidel made the prediction after her party’s victory in Sunday’s election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD defeated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund won 38 of the state’s 41 direct constituencies, marking the first time since 1949 that a far-right party had won a German state election with more than 40 per cent of the vote.
Weidel predicted that support for the CDU at the federal level would soon fall below 20 per cent, arguing that the party could eventually consider replacing Merz.
“I expect early federal elections, and I expect the current chancellor to be replaced before Christmas,” she said.
The AfD leader attributed her party’s victory to growing dissatisfaction among Germans with government policies, claiming that the country had been “ruined” in recent years.
She said the AfD would push for reduced spending, tighter border controls and the deportation of people required to leave Germany, including foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Weidel said an AfD-led government would seek stronger relations with the United States while opening communication with Russia to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
She criticised Berlin’s approach to the war, arguing that Germany should have played a neutral mediating role similar to Washington’s efforts.
“That role would suit us much better than being rhetorical warmongers,” Weidel said.
