Germany Weidel and Chrupalla re-elected as AfD leader duo
Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel remain leaders of the AfD. The party conference in Essen on Saturday confirmed both of them in office for the next two years with strong support. There were no opposing candidates. Weidel and Chrupalla nominated each other. The delegates had previously decided by a clear majority that the party should continue to be led by a dual leadership. A single leadership would also be possible according to the constitution.
Chrupalla "overwhelmed"
Chrupalla received 82.72% of the vote, a significantly better result than at the last party conference two years ago in Riesa. Back then, the 49-year-old received 53.4 percent. "I'm really a bit overwhelmed," said Chrupalla after his election. 426 of the 531 votes cast were "yes" votes, 89 delegates voted "no" and 16 abstained. The master craftsman from Saxony has been at the helm of the AfD since November 2019. He was initially co-leader alongside Jörg Meuthen, who later left the AfD because it had become too radical for him. Since June 2022, he has formed the leadership duo with Alice Weidel. Two years ago, he promised to make the AfD stronger than ever with the new federal executive, said Chrupalla in his candidacy speech: "I have kept my word". The party would change the country and turn it on its head.
Weidel's result slightly weaker
Weidel's election result was then slightly weaker than Chrupalla's: she received 79.77 percent of the vote, compared to 67.3 percent in Riesa two years ago. This time, 418 of 537 votes were "yes" votes, 106 delegates voted "no" and 13 abstained.
In her opening speech at the party conference, Weidel used a football metaphor and spoke of a "coaching team" in the party leadership. She sharply attacked the traffic light: "Dear government, get out at last, clear the way for new elections!"
In her candidacy speech, she later said that the so-called firewalls against the AfD were not necessary. In any case: "There is already a blazing fire in our homeland."
In addition to the appointment of the new AfD Federal Executive Committee, the party conference will later discuss the party's direction in European and foreign policy.
SDA
