Clashes Erupt in Erfurt as Protesters Oppose Far-Right AfD Party Conference

Riot police have clashed with opponents of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party on the streets of Erfurt, Germany. Thousands of demonstrators gathered to block roads and prevent AfD delegates from attending the party’s biennial national conference, where leadership is set to be reelected. Reports indicate that approximately 20,000 protesters participated in the demonstrations in the eastern city, where Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are expected to retain their positions as co-leaders of the party ahead of crucial regional elections. These elections could see the AfD gaining power at the state level for the first time in history. The protests were organized by the Resistance alliance, featuring sit-in blockades in the city center aimed at obstructing around 600 delegates from reaching the conference venue. Some demonstrators even abseiled from motorway bridges and glued themselves to tram tracks to amplify the disruption. The police response was substantial, with thousands deployed to maintain order. Footage has surfaced showing officers using batons against protesters moving toward them, while others struggled to manage the crowds. A police spokesperson informed Die Zeit that, despite the clashes, the demonstration remained mostly peaceful, noting that just under 100 offenses were recorded, primarily property damage from graffiti. Despite the protests, an AfD spokesperson confirmed that 540 delegates successfully arrived at the conference center before 5 AM, allowing the event to start on schedule. The timing of the conference, coinciding with the centennial of a Nazi party gathering in nearby Weimar—where Adolf Hitler launched the Hitler Youth movement—has sparked outrage across Germany. Critics argue that the AfD's decision to hold its conference on such a controversial date is a deliberate provocation, a claim that the party denies, accusing detractors of 'weaponizing history.' Opponents of the AfD have consistently accused the party of promoting racist and anti-Muslim ideologies, in addition to downplaying the atrocities of the Nazi regime. Notable figures in the protests included federal environment minister Carsten Schneider and Thuringia's interior minister Georg Maier, who attended a secondary demonstration organized by the Standing Together alliance, where activists—including women from the group Grandmas Against the Right—held signs to express their dissent. One protester, Lene Krug, 19, from Gera, stated, "It’s important to send a signal against the shift to the right. The AfD is an anti-democratic party that spreads hate." Another activist, who glued herself to tram tracks, reflected on the historical significance of the protests by declaring, "1933 to 1945 must never happen again,” referencing the period of Nazi rule. Ella, a 44-year-old protester who wished to remain anonymous, asserted, "The democratic parties need to understand that they must impose a ban on the AfD." In his opening remarks at the conference, Chrupalla criticized the demonstrators, claiming they were protesting against democratic decision-making. "They believe they have a monopoly on democracy. To these demonstrators, I say: this democracy is just as much ours as it is yours." Chrupalla stressed that holding party conferences is a guaranteed democratic right and labeled the demonstrators as ‘troublemakers,’ a last line of defense against political competition. He called on supporters to help the party secure an absolute majority in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt state elections, stating it would send a strong message to those 'against democracy' who sought to disrupt the AfD's conference, while emphasizing their vision of unity in German politics. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2