Tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police in Erfurt, Germany, on Saturday as they demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during its national convention. The protests coincided with the party's leadership elections, where co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were re-elected with strong support.
Police estimated that over 30,000 people participated in the demonstrations, with some protesters carrying signs reading 'Stop AfD Nazis' and 'For Diversity, Against Nazis.' Despite the clashes, police described the protests as 'mostly peaceful,' reporting approximately 100 law violations, mostly related to graffiti.
The AfD, Germany's second-largest parliamentary group, has seen rising popularity, becoming the largest opposition party and the strongest political force in eastern Germany. The party's convention drew additional controversy due to its timing, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of a Nazi Party meeting nearby, which historians and political opponents say carries powerful symbolism. The AfD rejects these accusations.
Protesters included members of unions, civil society groups, and left-wing parties, who blocked roads leading to the convention center. Some protesters attacked police with fireworks and targeted journalists, warning them to 'put that camera away.' AfD officials criticized the protests, calling them anti-democratic and accusing demonstrators of attempting to disrupt the party's legally guaranteed right to hold conventions.
The protests come ahead of regional elections in eastern Germany, where the AfD hopes to gain power at the state level for the first time. The party's growing support has led to calls for it to be banned, though Germany's supreme court has set a high bar for such actions.