Five German states block protests ahead of AfD party congress in Erfurt

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6 days · 3 summary articles
Five German states block protests ahead of AfD party congress in Erfurt
Germany braces for unrest as far-right AfD surges ahead of regional votes
Legal assessment finds AfD demonstrably unconstitutional, spurring ban push
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Five German states move to block AfD party congress as nationwide protests planned
Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets in Erfurt this weekend as authorities in five German states impose assembly restrictions ahead of the Alternative für Deutschland’s (AfD) national party congress, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia have all issued partial bans on protests near the venue, citing public order concerns and citing the risk of violent clashes with police. The move comes after weeks of escalating tensions following the federal government’s announcement of a sweeping reform package that includes tax relief for low- and middle-income earners and tighter regulation of far-right political activity.
The AfD congress, set to be held at the Messe Erfurt exhibition centre, has drawn widespread opposition from civil society groups, trade unions and political parties. Organisers of the “Widersetzen zu Blockaden” coalition have called for mass demonstrations under the slogan “No space for the AfD,” with organisers estimating turnout could reach 50,000 people. Police in Thuringia have already deployed additional units and set up exclusion zones around the congress site, while local authorities have banned overnight camping and the use of drones near the venue .
The federal government’s reform agenda, negotiated over the past 13 hours in a marathon session of the coalition committee in Berlin, has further inflamed tensions. The package includes measures to tighten oversight of political parties suspected of undermining Germany’s democratic order, a direct response to the AfD’s ongoing legal challenges and its classification as a “suspected extremist organisation” by domestic intelligence agencies. The reforms also propose stricter penalties for hate speech and the misuse of public funds by political parties .
Meanwhile, the AfD has strengthened its internal ranks ahead of the congress. On Tuesday, the party announced that former economist and long-time critic of mainstream economic policy, Dr. Markus Frohnmaier, will take over as national spokesperson. Frohnmaier, who previously worked at the Institute of German Economy (IW Köln) before resigning in 2024 after the institute publicly distanced itself from the AfD’s economic policies, will lead the party’s communications strategy during the congress .
The congress itself is expected to focus on the AfD’s opposition to the government’s reform package, with party leader Alice Weidel set to deliver a keynote address on Saturday evening. The event will also serve as a platform for internal debates on the party’s future direction, particularly in light of ongoing legal proceedings against several regional AfD branches and the federal party’s exclusion from public funding in some states.
Civil rights groups have condemned the state-level restrictions on protests as disproportionate and a threat to democratic freedoms. “The right to peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Claudia Roth, Vice-President of the Bundestag and a senior Green Party politician. “Banning protests before they even begin sets a dangerous precedent.” The federal government has yet to comment on the state-level measures, but Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) has reiterated his commitment to balancing public order with the protection of civil liberties .
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