Delegates at the national convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Saturday overwhelmingly reelected its leaders, including Alice Weidel, as tens of thousands of protesters aimed to disrupt the meeting and some clashed with police.
AfD Leaders Reelected with Strong Majorities
Alternative for Germany, or AfD, sought to show unity as it voted to extend the terms of Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have headed it for four years as co-leaders and ran unopposed Saturday. Weidel was reelected with 81% of the vote, while Chrupalla earned 70%. German parties elect their leaders every two years.
Protests Reflect Deep Divisions
The demonstrations outside the convention in the eastern city of Erfurt reflected how AfD has divided Germany even while becoming the biggest opposition party nationally and the strongest political force in Germany’s formerly communist east. Saturday’s event was able to start on time despite the protests, which party officials hailed as their “fundamental, legally guaranteed right to hold party conventions.”
“There are no peaceful seated blockades. There are no democratic roadblocks. Nor are there any gangs of thugs who deserve the harmless label ‘civil society.’ These troublemakers are the last resort of our political rivals,” Chrupalla said.
Controversial Timing with Nazi Anniversary
The weekend convention has drawn additional controversy by coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of a Nazi Party meeting held nearby that consolidated Adolf Hitler’s power over the fascist movement. Historians and political opponents say the timing carries powerful symbolism, an accusation the AfD rejects.
Growing Electoral Support
AfD achieved second place in the February 2025 national election with 20.8% of the vote, the best showing by a far-right party since World War II. Since then support has risen to first among the nation’s political parties. Despite the growing support, some want to see the party banned and protesters on Saturday and Sunday are likely to underline those calls. But Germany’s supreme court previously has set a very high bar for banning parties.
Although Weidel said recently that “2026 is a year of destiny for AfD,” mainstream parties say they won’t work with AfD in a stance often referred to as a “firewall” against far-right parties.
Protest Turnout and Messages
Police said some 31,000 people attended Saturday’s protest rallies, German news agency dpa reported. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, with protesters holding signs such as “Stop AfD Nazis” and “For Diversity, Against Nazis.”
