AfD and radical Christians: An alliance of convenience? – DW – 05/31/2025
The radical right in Germany, Europe and the US portrays itself as the defender of the Christian West against Islam. But religion is not really at the heart of this conflict.
"What's your name?" asked Alice Weidel of the young blond man who had just approached the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for an interview. "LE-O-NARD JÄ-GER is my name," Jäger, wearing a big black jacket over a white shirt, answered boldly. His hair was neatly combed back. "Perhaps you know me," he said. "I was on the trip to the US where we met Donald Trump!" Weidel smiled in a friendly but reserved way.
In January, the far-right AfD held its national party congress in Riesa, in the eastern German state of Saxony. For Weidel, the congress wrapped up with a marathon of interviews. TV networks and newspapers wanted to know: Has the AfD become more radical? How far-right has the party become?
But Weidel also made sure to set aside plenty of time for right-wing newspapers and YouTubers such as Leonard Jäger. His YouTube channel has half a million subscribers, and his interview with Weidel has been viewed over a million times. "You're always under fire from the media," the young man said, showing his support for the political leader. His interview lasted eight minutes and the main topic was God.
Who is Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Alice Weidel on faith and God
"Do you believe in God?" was his first question. Weidel launched into a somewhat roundabout answer: She talked about the water, minerals, and metals that make up the human body — about how fascinating she finds the question of God. And she also mentioned being a very introspective person. "I would like to believe, but I think I need a little more time."
Jäger's online persona could be defined as defiant cheerfulness, and he often posts videos of himself engaging in debates with people at left-wing demonstrations. He discusses gender issues, the AfD, homosexuality, and God, and often edits his videos to make his critics look ridiculous. He believes that there are only two genders, that leftists want to introduce children to sex at an early age, and that the elites want to ban everything. In addition, Jäger's answer to the world's problems is often Jesus.
Although Weidel doesn't not appear to be especially religious, the AfD does ride the wave of traditional Christian culture and values. The party stokes fears about Islam and a general uncertainty about change.
YouTuber Leonard Jäger spoke to Alice Weidel about God Image: Ketzer der Neuzeit/Youtube
To many, the image of an ideal world of cheerful snowy Christmas celebrations, peaceful churchgoers, and straightforward rules about right and wrong sounds like the solution for dealing with the complexity of the modern world, which is why, observers say, the AfD maintains close ties to Christian traditions.
"My partner is Christian, and she is very devout," Weidel told Jäger. "Our children are also being raised as Christians. I think that's very important for laying a solid foundation."
However, devout Christians are somewhat of a rarity in the AfD, and Germany's major Christian churches have accused the party of hate and incitement. Moreover, faith doesn't play as big a role in German society as it once did — a trend that is true for Europe as a whole. The AfD strongholds in eastern Germany are traditionally very secular.
Exploiting Christian traditions
So why the overtures to Christianity? "Because it is compatible with the political mainstream," said Matthias Kortmann, professor at the Technical University of Dortmund, where he specializes in examining the ties between religion and the radical right.
"Many people, even those who don't sympathize with the AfD, would still agree that Christianity plays a special role in Germany's history and culture. And the AfD exploits that," Kortmann told DW.
Germany's churches get creative about new ways to worship
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Most of the AfD's references to Christian values are made in their attacks on Islam, which they associate with immigration. Ever since hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East began arriving in Germany in 2015, the party has been warning of the downfall of Western civilization and what they call "population replacement." The AfD often claims that other political parties are deliberately flooding Germany with Muslims in order to destroy their own culture.
Around 83 million people live in Germany, 25% of whom have some immigrant background. However, the percentage of Muslims remains much lower. According to official figures from 2020, there are approximately 5.5 million Muslims in Germany, only 6.6% of the population.
Nevertheless, prominent AfD politicians like Beatrix von Storch argue that Germany is undergoing a "de-Christianization." In an interview with DW, she warned of the "growing influence of Islamic movements on culture, society, and politics, and the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse."
Von Storch is also a devout Catholic. "I see my duties as serving God and humanity, with a responsibility to promote what is good and to do what is right," she said.
AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch worries about the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse in Germany Image: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa/picture alliance
Punished for transphobia
For von Storch, her faith means fighting abortion, the queer community, and, above all, transgenderism. In fact, her transphobic remarks have got her in trouble in the Bundestag. Last year, she was sanctioned for making offensive remarks about the transgender Green Party MP Tessa Ganserer, even after receiving numerous warnings. Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckart condemned the heckling as "degrading and disrespectful."
According to Kortmann, discussions about gender identity are a classic example of how populists try to capitalize on social uncertainty in the modern world. "This is super easy to exploit: Many people are already feeling insecure, and they say, 'now they're also taking away the two-gender system, which was something we could always depend on'," he said.
Ultimately, critics see the AfD's relationship with Christianity as instrumental: The party draws on Christian traditions when it suits its agenda. However, the party does not cultivate close ties with the churches. "The AfD must always be careful not to align itself too closely with particular groups that, upon closer inspection, may generate significant skepticism among the general population," said Kortmann.
He thinks Christian fundamentalists are the exception in the AfD: "Because these groups are not only against transgenderism, but perhaps also have a very outdated view of women or are against same-sex marriage. All of that is absolutely accepted in society."
Piety as a political force: Europe and the US
Up until now, the influence of Christianity on politics has generally been one of the major differences between Europe and the US, where evangelical billionaires sometimes use enormous sums of money to shape politics in the name of God. Many of them support the radical right surrounding Donald Trump.
But according to Philipp Greifenstein, this phenomenon is now also spreading to Europe. Greifenstein is editor of the German online magazine Die Eule, which covers religious politics, the church, and theology. "Right-wing or far-right influencers are using religion as a way to downplay their own views and to curry favor with the evangelical movement in the US," Greifenstein told DW. "Financial reasons definitely play a role here, because this US movement has a lot of money at its disposal."
Greifenstein argues that many Christian influencers are more impressed by US dollars than by the evangelical message. "I don't get the impression that Leonard Jäger wants to promote Christ. It's all about expanding reach."
That is a goal that Jäger certainly shares with Alice Weidel and the AfD.
This article was originally written in German.
While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
15 hours ago
- DW
Bangladesh: Exiled ex-PM Sheikh Hasina on trial – DW – 06/01/2025
Bangladeshi prosecutors have accused former leader Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, of "crimes against humanity" during last year's uprising against her rule. The trial against Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began in Dhaka on Sunday, with the fugitive former leader being accused of crimes against humanity. Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising last year, with the nationwide unrest ending with her fleeing Bangladesh and finding refuge in neighboring India. She has since refused an extradition order to return to Dhaka. The trial against Hasina is being held in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The officials are focusing on her government's crackdown against the protest movement, which marked the end of her 15-year rule. What did prosecutors say about Sheikh Hasina? "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," ICT chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told the court in his opening speech. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising." Prosecutors have accused Hasina of directing the violent crackdown, including ordering the killing of student protester Abu Sayeed, the first to be killed during the uprising. The prosecution has listed five charges against Hasina and several other top officials from her government, including "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising." Islam said the charges amounted to "crimes against humanity." How has Sheikh Hasina responded to the charges? Hasina claims the charges against her are politically motivated. Her party, the Awami League, was banned pending the result of the trial. Bangladesh seeks India's extradition of ousted PM To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Islam vowed the trial would be impartial, saying: "This is not an act of vendetta but a commitment to the principle that, in a democratic country, there is no room for crimes against humanity." Sunday's trial also included ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who is in custody but was not in court on the opening day, and former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal who is on the run, presumed to also be in India. The ICT was first set up by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes carried out by the Pakistani military during Bangladesh's war for independence in 1971. During her rule, Hasina allegedly used the ICT to eliminate politicial opponents, having sentenced several prominent rivals to death. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Local Germany
a day ago
- Local Germany
In changing times, young Germans gun for defence sector jobs
That was a "personal turning point," said the 25-year-old studying at the prominent Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, who was spurred into becoming an armed forces reservist and now wants to work for a military equipment manufacturer. "People are beginning to understand that the Bundeswehr (the German armed forces) is now clearly focused on defending the country" and NATO, said the engineering student during a job fair organised by the institute in western Germany. He was among young Germans at the event expressing interest in the defence sector, a sharp break from the past amid growing hostility from Russia as well as concerns about US security commitments to Europe under President Donald Trump. For the first time ever this year, German arms manufacturers -- which are some of the world's biggest but had in the past kept a relatively low profile -- were among exhibitors at the fair as they hunt for staff to meet surging demand. There were some signs of unease, with Germany's biggest weapons maker Rheinmetall pulling out after a handful of students voiced anger at the presence of arms manufacturers. Still, there is a sense the long-running stigma surrounding the sector has eased since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. And the opportunities in the industry may be welcome at a time that Germany's economy is mired in a downturn. The European defence sector employs about 600,000 people and is expected to grow strongly, including in Germany where new Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to greatly ramp up military spending. Advertisement Shifting attitudes "The political discourse we have had since 2022 has led Germans to change their way of seeing things," said Eva Brueckner, a consultant from the headhunting firm Heinrich and Coll, which helps defence companies find staff. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, candidates have expressed fewer ethical and moral concerns about defence sector jobs, she said. Another student at the fair, Nico Haenelt, was enquiring about an internship at the stand of industrial giant Thyssenkrupp's submarine-making unit. While the 19-year-old says his parents had quite a pacifist worldview, recent geopolitical upheavals have shaped his own outlook. "If the world were more peaceful, I would probably also look in other areas," said Haenelt, who studies mechatronics, which mixes elements of engineering and computer science. To attract talent, defence companies are offering perks ranging from paying for relocation costs to gym memberships, according to accounts given to AFP. Diehl, whose products include ammunition and missiles, even offers scholarships to young people to fund their studies in the hope they will subsequently apply for jobs with the company. Advertisement 'Conservative' sector With the German economy struggling, some hope the improving fortunes of the defence sector could provide a boost. There are already signs that arms makers might throw a lifeline to some troubled companies. Rheinmetall, whose profits have soared since the start of the Ukraine war, last year struck a deal to hire workers from Continental as the ailing auto supplier cuts thousands of jobs. Still, beyond the traditional reluctance of young Germans to work in the defence sector due to the country's past, there are other challenges in recruiting for the industry. "The sector is very conservative, and people who don't come from this background may have difficulty integrating," said the headhunter, Brueckner. And not all the students at the job fair were rushing to find jobs in the arms industry. Niklas, a computer science student who only gave his first name, said his priority was to find a job with "meaning", such as in the fields of health or sustainable development. As for the arms industry? "Never", he insisted.
DW
2 days ago
- DW
AfD and radical Christians: An alliance of convenience? – DW – 05/31/2025
The radical right in Germany, Europe and the US portrays itself as the defender of the Christian West against Islam. But religion is not really at the heart of this conflict. "What's your name?" asked Alice Weidel of the young blond man who had just approached the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for an interview. "LE-O-NARD JÄ-GER is my name," Jäger, wearing a big black jacket over a white shirt, answered boldly. His hair was neatly combed back. "Perhaps you know me," he said. "I was on the trip to the US where we met Donald Trump!" Weidel smiled in a friendly but reserved way. In January, the far-right AfD held its national party congress in Riesa, in the eastern German state of Saxony. For Weidel, the congress wrapped up with a marathon of interviews. TV networks and newspapers wanted to know: Has the AfD become more radical? How far-right has the party become? But Weidel also made sure to set aside plenty of time for right-wing newspapers and YouTubers such as Leonard Jäger. His YouTube channel has half a million subscribers, and his interview with Weidel has been viewed over a million times. "You're always under fire from the media," the young man said, showing his support for the political leader. His interview lasted eight minutes and the main topic was God. Who is Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Alice Weidel on faith and God "Do you believe in God?" was his first question. Weidel launched into a somewhat roundabout answer: She talked about the water, minerals, and metals that make up the human body — about how fascinating she finds the question of God. And she also mentioned being a very introspective person. "I would like to believe, but I think I need a little more time." Jäger's online persona could be defined as defiant cheerfulness, and he often posts videos of himself engaging in debates with people at left-wing demonstrations. He discusses gender issues, the AfD, homosexuality, and God, and often edits his videos to make his critics look ridiculous. He believes that there are only two genders, that leftists want to introduce children to sex at an early age, and that the elites want to ban everything. In addition, Jäger's answer to the world's problems is often Jesus. Although Weidel doesn't not appear to be especially religious, the AfD does ride the wave of traditional Christian culture and values. The party stokes fears about Islam and a general uncertainty about change. YouTuber Leonard Jäger spoke to Alice Weidel about God Image: Ketzer der Neuzeit/Youtube To many, the image of an ideal world of cheerful snowy Christmas celebrations, peaceful churchgoers, and straightforward rules about right and wrong sounds like the solution for dealing with the complexity of the modern world, which is why, observers say, the AfD maintains close ties to Christian traditions. "My partner is Christian, and she is very devout," Weidel told Jäger. "Our children are also being raised as Christians. I think that's very important for laying a solid foundation." However, devout Christians are somewhat of a rarity in the AfD, and Germany's major Christian churches have accused the party of hate and incitement. Moreover, faith doesn't play as big a role in German society as it once did — a trend that is true for Europe as a whole. The AfD strongholds in eastern Germany are traditionally very secular. Exploiting Christian traditions So why the overtures to Christianity? "Because it is compatible with the political mainstream," said Matthias Kortmann, professor at the Technical University of Dortmund, where he specializes in examining the ties between religion and the radical right. "Many people, even those who don't sympathize with the AfD, would still agree that Christianity plays a special role in Germany's history and culture. And the AfD exploits that," Kortmann told DW. Germany's churches get creative about new ways to worship To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Most of the AfD's references to Christian values are made in their attacks on Islam, which they associate with immigration. Ever since hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East began arriving in Germany in 2015, the party has been warning of the downfall of Western civilization and what they call "population replacement." The AfD often claims that other political parties are deliberately flooding Germany with Muslims in order to destroy their own culture. Around 83 million people live in Germany, 25% of whom have some immigrant background. However, the percentage of Muslims remains much lower. According to official figures from 2020, there are approximately 5.5 million Muslims in Germany, only 6.6% of the population. Nevertheless, prominent AfD politicians like Beatrix von Storch argue that Germany is undergoing a "de-Christianization." In an interview with DW, she warned of the "growing influence of Islamic movements on culture, society, and politics, and the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse." Von Storch is also a devout Catholic. "I see my duties as serving God and humanity, with a responsibility to promote what is good and to do what is right," she said. AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch worries about the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse in Germany Image: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa/picture alliance Punished for transphobia For von Storch, her faith means fighting abortion, the queer community, and, above all, transgenderism. In fact, her transphobic remarks have got her in trouble in the Bundestag. Last year, she was sanctioned for making offensive remarks about the transgender Green Party MP Tessa Ganserer, even after receiving numerous warnings. Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckart condemned the heckling as "degrading and disrespectful." According to Kortmann, discussions about gender identity are a classic example of how populists try to capitalize on social uncertainty in the modern world. "This is super easy to exploit: Many people are already feeling insecure, and they say, 'now they're also taking away the two-gender system, which was something we could always depend on'," he said. Ultimately, critics see the AfD's relationship with Christianity as instrumental: The party draws on Christian traditions when it suits its agenda. However, the party does not cultivate close ties with the churches. "The AfD must always be careful not to align itself too closely with particular groups that, upon closer inspection, may generate significant skepticism among the general population," said Kortmann. He thinks Christian fundamentalists are the exception in the AfD: "Because these groups are not only against transgenderism, but perhaps also have a very outdated view of women or are against same-sex marriage. All of that is absolutely accepted in society." Piety as a political force: Europe and the US Up until now, the influence of Christianity on politics has generally been one of the major differences between Europe and the US, where evangelical billionaires sometimes use enormous sums of money to shape politics in the name of God. Many of them support the radical right surrounding Donald Trump. But according to Philipp Greifenstein, this phenomenon is now also spreading to Europe. Greifenstein is editor of the German online magazine Die Eule, which covers religious politics, the church, and theology. "Right-wing or far-right influencers are using religion as a way to downplay their own views and to curry favor with the evangelical movement in the US," Greifenstein told DW. "Financial reasons definitely play a role here, because this US movement has a lot of money at its disposal." Greifenstein argues that many Christian influencers are more impressed by US dollars than by the evangelical message. "I don't get the impression that Leonard Jäger wants to promote Christ. It's all about expanding reach." That is a goal that Jäger certainly shares with Alice Weidel and the AfD. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
