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Tens of thousands protest in Erfurt as AfD opens party conference
AfD reaffirms Weidel and Chrupalla as leaders amid mass protests in Erfurt
AfD confirms leadership duo as party claims mantle of ‘new people’s party’ amid mass protests
ERFURT — The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has reaffirmed its controversial leadership duo of Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla at a tightly secured party congress in Erfurt on Saturday, as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to denounce the far-right movement. The party’s claim to be the “new people’s party” of Germany was met with fierce resistance, but the AfD’s leadership insisted it was ready to assume national responsibility.
Weidel, the party’s co-chair, received 81.3% of delegates’ votes in a secret ballot, a slight improvement on her 2024 result, while Chrupalla secured 70.05%, a notable decline from his previous 82.7% in Essen two years ago. The vote confirmed the continuation of the AfD’s dual leadership structure, which has been in place since 2022. Neither faced challengers, and both were re-elected without opposition.
The congress began on schedule after police thwarted attempts by activists to block access to the venue. Hundreds of AfD delegates had arrived overnight, some camping on the premises, while thousands of demonstrators—many affiliated with the left-wing alliance *Widersetzen*—attempted to disrupt the event through roadblocks and sit-ins. At the A71 autobahn interchange near Erfurt, police reported up to 3,000 protesters participating in a temporary blockade that forced a temporary closure of the highway. By midday, the protest had dispersed.
Speaking to delegates, Weidel framed the AfD as the victim of political persecution, accusing mainstream parties of waging a campaign of “hatred and agitation” against the movement. “You will not break us,” she declared. “On the contrary, we will grow stronger.” Chrupalla struck a similarly defiant tone, asserting that the AfD was on the path to governance. “We will win,” he told the hall. “Perhaps we will soon govern alone,” he added, referencing upcoming state elections in eastern Germany where the party currently leads polls.
The AfD’s resurgence comes amid a wave of regional votes in September, including in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party is polling above 40% and is poised to secure an absolute majority. In her speech, Weidel dismissed Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) as a political chameleon, mocking his frequent policy reversals with the quip: “He’s the Vivaldi of chancellors—four seasons of reform announcements, followed by a symphony of retractions.”
The party’s leadership election overshadowed internal debates, including a failed attempt by hardliners led by Thuringia’s Björn Höcke to reopen discussions on the AfD’s controversial *Unvereinbarkeitsliste*—a list of groups deemed incompatible with party membership. Weidel swiftly quashed the motion, redirecting the debate to the party’s executive board.
Security was tight throughout the event, with police deploying a large-scale operation to prevent disruptions. The AfD’s Erfurt congress coincided with a broader protest movement, with organizers estimating 25,000 people participating in demonstrations across the city. The scale of opposition underscored the deep societal divisions the AfD’s rise has provoked.
As the party celebrated its leadership renewal, Chrupalla struck an optimistic note, telling delegates: “Early birds catch the worm.” Yet the muted applause following his re-election—compared to the sustained ovation for Weidel—hinted at lingering internal tensions. The AfD’s next test will come in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, where the party’s electoral ambitions could propel it into government for the first time at the state level.
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