Swiss Billionaires Linked to Funding and Networking for Germany's AfD

Germany’s far-right AfD has leveraged a network of affluent supporters based in Zurich to strengthen its political influence after securing a sweeping victory in Sachsen-Anhalt and its strongest vote share in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Party chief Alice Weidel splits her time between Germany and the Swiss town of Einsiedeln, attending gatherings at the restaurant of Michel Péclard and delivering speeches at the Zurich Congress House.

Among the Swiss-based backers are dairy tycoon Theo Müller, who claims a friendship with Weidel and has praised the party’s electoral success; real-estate mogul Henning Conle, owner of over 1,200 apartments in Zurich and alleged donor to AfD campaigns; and Alexander Segert, a former teacher turned advertising director whose agency has produced campaign material for the party. While the exact size of their financial contributions remains undisclosed, investigators note that these individuals use personal relationships and indirect channels to support the AfD, which the German authorities partially label as “secured right-extremist.”