Erfurt, Germany: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Erfurt on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as it held its biennial national conference to elect its leadership ahead of key regional elections.
According to police, nearly 20,000 protesters gathered across the eastern German city in an effort to block roads and prevent AfD delegates from reaching the conference venue. The demonstrations were organized by the “Resistance” alliance, with activists staging sit-in protests, abseiling from motorway bridges, and gluing themselves to tram tracks in an attempt to disrupt the event.
Riot police were deployed in large numbers to manage the demonstrations, and clashes broke out between officers and protesters in several locations. Videos circulating on social media showed police using batons to disperse crowds, while other footage captured officers struggling to contain demonstrators.
Despite the unrest, police described the protests as “mostly peaceful,” reporting fewer than 100 offences, most of which involved graffiti and minor property damage.
The AfD said the conference proceeded as scheduled after around 540 of its approximately 600 delegates reached the venue before dawn. Party co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are expected to be re-elected as they prepare for upcoming regional elections, where the AfD hopes to achieve its first state-level electoral victory.
The conference has sparked additional controversy because it coincides with the centenary of a Nazi Party gathering in nearby Weimar, where Adolf Hitler introduced the Hitler Youth movement and the Hitler salute. Historians and political leaders have criticized the timing, calling it a deliberate provocation, an allegation the AfD has rejected.
Critics continue to accuse the AfD of promoting anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and nationalist policies, while also condemning remarks by some party members that have been viewed as minimizing Nazi-era crimes.
Among those participating in the protests were German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Thuringia Interior Minister Georg Maier, who joined a separate rally organized by the “Standing Together” alliance. Members of the activist group “Grandmas Against the Right” also participated, carrying handmade placards opposing the rise of right-wing extremism.
Speaking at the demonstration, 19-year-old protester Lene Krug said the rally was intended to send a strong message against the growing influence of the far right. She described the AfD as an anti-democratic party that spreads division and hatred.
The protests underscore the deep political divisions in Germany as the AfD continues to gain electoral support ahead of crucial regional polls.
