In a recent interview with the German newspaper “Bild am Sonntag”, Alice Weidel, the chairwoman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), reflected on the party’s decision to expel Björn Höcke, a prominent figure in the party, in the past. Weidel, who can also envision herself as a minister, stated that she holds Höcke in high regard and believes that the expulsion was an error. She claimed to have a good understanding with Höcke, having gotten to know him over the years.
Weidel’s comments sparked controversy, as she seemed to downplay the severity of Höcke’s past statements, which have been criticized for being anti-Semitic and xenophobic. In response to the criticism, Weidel argued that even she, as a public figure, can be insulted and that the judgment of a court should not be taken as absolute truth.
The AfD chairwoman also made a point about the independence of the German state’s prosecution, stating that, in her opinion, there are no truly independent prosecutors in the country. She used the example of a recent case, in which a retired man and his daughter, who is disabled, were searched by the authorities, to illustrate what she perceives as an overreach of power by the state.