In Germany, a country that eighty years after the fall of Nazism continues to drag the weight of its history, one in five people could vote this Sunday for Alternative for Germany (AFD), an extreme right party. After a brief fall in the surveys, this ultra-right formation exceeds the threshold of 20% of the vote since the beginning of the year and congratulates having a faithful electorate who, far from what one might think, is proud to defend the doctrines that proclaim their leaders.
But how can this be explained? Without a doubt, the collapse of the government coalition had a lot to do with it, but also an effective strategy. After a few months where disputes followed in this formation, mainly among the more moderate section of the party against the so-called “nationalist wing”, their leaders managed to close ranks unanimously designating Alice Weider as a candidate for chancellor. A figure that, according to the German press, has brought some calm to the ranks of the party, but has also managed to soften the image of the AFD facing the outside. With unity as a flag, the popularity of the party began to rise, and with it, the estimate of votes for the elections.
In addition, both in rallies and interviews, Weidel has not tired of repeating what for her is the liberal and bourgeois character of Alternative for Germany. The white blouse, the pearl necklace, and her American appearance seem to underline it. In the rally they held in Heidenheim, a town in the south of the country, the party – compromised with the “high western culture” – programmed music by Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Rachmaninov in a room that saw its capacity overflowed with those who wanted to see and listen to the leader of the ultras.
Creating a Loyal Base
In recent years, the AFD has created a loyal base of usual voters. “It is like a psychological affiliation to a party, they are very loyal members who largely support the party regardless of the results or of the scandals,” says political scientist Benjamin Höhne of the University of Chemnitz to German television. “This is because they have a very closed vision of the world in which conspiracy theories play a very important role.” And everything, at a time when extreme right attitudes have gained strength in society, especially in the east of the country.
Success on Social Networks
Among its successes, it cannot be ignored that the AFD seeks its supporters where they are: on social networks. This was especially clear during the live conversation that Alice Weidel held a few days ago with the American billionaire and owner of the social network X, Elon Musk, and that it was not only followed by millions of people worldwide but also came to strengthen the feeling of their supporters. The AFD has been reaping great successes for some time with its digital strategy, and thus, on video platforms such as Tiktok and YouTube, they are far ahead of the rest of the parties. Even in some of these channels, they have ten times more subscribers than their opponents, among which are many young voters.
However, this does not explain on its own the possibility that the AFD obtains in the next federal elections the double results that in 2021. The political scientist Höhne sees an effective dual strategy; on the one hand, the party has tried to attract groups of more moderate voters. For example, the direction of the party announced that it will reorganize its youth, called “Junge Alternative”, to have more control over them. Thus, and with a certain normalization strategy, the party managed to get out of the stigmatized corner on the right and expand its voter potential.
In addition, already a difference from other similar parties in Europe, the AFD has managed to get a place and get the sympathy of many women. On the other hand, the choice of words is clearly radical. For example, when Weidel said at the party conference in Riesa “never again to the mills (wind) of shame” or “if that means remigrating, then it means remigrating!” – in reference to the repatriations – he knew that he was pleasing the supporters of the hard line and the ultra-right of his party. Although it can be difficult to understand, Weider has managed to please both sides and create, simultaneously, a normalization strategy and an ultra-right-wing course. Many also believe that the party has managed to get out of their own borders and move towards more centrist opinions. So much so that a fifth of the voters now considers an option in the Bundestag elections, by conviction, not for protest.
