German far-right party leader, who lives in same-sex partnership, distances herself from regional manifesto on traditional family

Alice Weidel, co-leader of the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), on Sunday distanced herself from parts of her party's regional manifesto that endorse the traditional family model.

Weidel, who lives in a registered same-sex civil partnership with a woman and is raising two children, responded to a question about the manifesto adopted by the AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt: "They can write whatever they want. I live differently."

She added that she personally believes her children have the best upbringing and opportunities. "We now live in a completely different reality. Therefore, same-sex relationships must be treated as equal," she said.

At the same time, Weidel defended her party's fundamental position on the traditional family. "When I as a politician speak about a societal ideal – and currently that is the traditional family – I can support it, and there is no contradiction there," she stated.

The AfD's Saxony-Anhalt manifesto states: "It is confirmed that a complete family consisting of mother, father and children is the best foundation for a child's healthy development."

On Saturday, the AfD re-elected Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as party leaders, with the congress accompanied by large-scale protests from those opposing their ideas and a major police operation.