The co-president of the German far-right AfD party, Alice Weidel, maintains strong links with Switzerland. When she is not staying in her official apartment in Berlin, the German politician lives in the canton of Schwyz with her partner and their two children. Portrait.
“Women in burqas, veiled women, men with knives and other good-for-nothings will endanger our prosperity (…)”. These words are those of Alice Weidel, co-president of the AfD, who hammers out anti-migrant slogans from the rostrum of the Bundestag, the German parliament.
His speech reflects the line of the German far-right party, which is more divisive than ever. And for this, she is regularly threatened.
Like for example in Berlin, where a young man takes her to task in the street: “Fuck the AFD! You should be ashamed to defend him as a homosexual woman”.
A German… in Switzerland
The 44-year-old politician lives with her partner, a Swiss woman of Sri Lankan origin, and their two children. Her papers are in Germany, but for five years Alice Weidel has led her private life in the Schwyz commune of Einsiedeln. Before that, she took up residence in Bienne in 2017.
>> Listen to Alain Franco’s column, “Alice Weidel, paradoxical figure of the AfD”: It happened far from you – Alice Weidel, paradoxical figure of the AfD / It happened far from you / 2 min. / October 15, 2018
In central Switzerland, the former investment banker thought she had found calm and anonymity. But on September 23, the police had to bring her to safety because of a threat of attack. However, the authorities did not provide further details regarding the intervention.
Controversial personality
In the Schwyz commune, where a Benedictine monastery sits, opinions are divided on Alice Weidel. One of the residents interviewed claims to be “an absolute fan”.
Alois Gmür, native of Einsiedeln and former national councilor (The Centre), has some reservations. He fears that the presence of such a controversial figure will disrupt the tranquility of his village.
“There are also very violent demonstrations in Germany at the moment and I worry that some extremist groups could arrive here to attack Alice Weidel,” said the resident.
Asked by RTS to intervene in this report, Alice Weidel did not respond to interview requests.
>> Read also: Protests against the far right continue in Germany
TV subject: Julien Guillaume
Adaptation web: doe