Alice Weidel has once again found herself at the center of international attention following the historic triumph of Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt. The far-right party received 43,8% of the votes, its best regional result to date.
But behind the politician who advocates a strongly nationalist and restrictive stance toward immigration lies a personal life that surprises many.
Weidel, 47, is openly lesbian and has been in a relationship since 2009 with Sarah Bossard, a film producer born in Sri Lanka and raised in Switzerland. They live together in Switzerland and raise their two adopted children.
Weidel has described herself as a lesbian, but has rejected being identified with terms such as “queer”. She has also defended a stance opposed to much of the progressive discourse on gender and has made immigration and national identity central themes of her political career.
This is where one of the particularities that draw the most attention to her comes into view: the leader of a party known for its anti-immigration positions shares her life with a woman of migrant origin.
The AfD also opposes same-sex marriage and holds conservative positions on social issues.
Weidel lives with her family in Switzerland while carrying out much of her political activity in Germany. And now, following her party’s historic electoral advance, her unique personal story is once again under the spotlight.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of her ideas, her biography raises an inevitable question: can a person politically defend very conservative ideas and, at the same time, lead a private life that departs from some of those values?