Germany sees mass demonstrations as far-right AfD eyes power
Thousands of people took to the streets in Erfurt, Germany, to protest against the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as it held its annual conference, highlighting growing political tensions across the country.
Protesters from labor unions, civil society organizations, and left-wing political groups blocked roads leading to the conference venue while thousands of police officers were deployed to maintain order. Authorities estimated that around 15,000 people participated in demonstrations throughout the city. Despite the disruptions, the party successfully held its conference under heavy security.
During the event, AfD delegates re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as the party's co-leaders. The leadership celebrated the party's growing popularity, claiming it is ready to challenge Germany's traditional political establishment. Both leaders argued that the AfD represents voters frustrated with economic stagnation, immigration policies, and mainstream parties.
Alice Weidel told supporters that the party was fighting to reverse what she described as Germany's decline and pledged stricter immigration measures, including the deportation of illegal migrants and criminals. Tino Chrupalla declared that the AfD's goal is to first win regional elections before eventually taking power at the national level. The party is hoping for strong results in the upcoming state elections in Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).
The AfD has become one of Germany's strongest political forces, with recent opinion polls placing it ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU alliance. While the party denies accusations of extremism and insists it supports Germany's democratic system, opponents argue its nationalist policies and anti-immigration rhetoric threaten democratic values. Mainstream political parties continue to refuse any cooperation with the AfD under Germany's long-standing "firewall" policy aimed at keeping the party out of government coalitions.