Juli Zeh, a writer from Brandenburg and volunteer constitutional judge in Potsdam, stated that she would be willing to discuss topics with Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD. According to the German news magazine Focus, Zeh expressed interest in understanding her character, questioning “what is behind the façade”.
However, the author set clear boundaries regarding such an encounter. Zeh emphasized that if it were a public discussion, she would first have to assess if she could manage the responsibility. The 51-year-old noted that she often observes during talk show rounds with AfD members that discussion attempts tend to focus on challenging them morally, while the factual preparation of the opposing debaters is often inadequate. She argues that this approach only “boosts the right-wing populists” who she characterizes as operating using half-truths and overly simplified slogans. Consequently, debunking these claims is “not easy”.
Despite her reservations about direct engagements, Zeh offered general advice for interacting with AfD supporters. She advises remaining curious and scrutinizing the situation, reminding people that they do not live in a dictatorship where mere association with “the wrong people” leads to arrest. Furthermore, she dismissed the concept of “contact guilt” calling it a phantom notion. Zeh concluded by assuring readers that simply listening to someone explain why they support the AfD will not automatically turn them into a voter for that party.