Alternative for Germany Party Holds Leadership Election Amid Protests and Police Confrontations

ERFURT, Germany — Thousands of demonstrators sought to disrupt the AfD’s national convention on Saturday, with several confronting police in riot gear outside the venue.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is convening in the eastern city of Erfurt to elect its leadership, a process German parties undertake biennially. The party aims to project unity while extending the terms of co‑leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have headed the organization for four years.

The protests outside the gathering underscore how the AfD has polarized Germany despite being the country’s largest opposition party.

The weekend convention also draws controversy because it coincides with the centennial of a Nazi Party meeting held nearby that helped consolidate Adolf Hitler’s control over the fascist movement. Historians and political critics argue the timing carries potent symbolism, a claim the AfD denies.

Weidel recently remarked that “2026 is a year of destiny for the AfD.” Mainstream parties maintain they will not cooperate with it, a stance often described as a “firewall.”

Nevertheless, the AfD is capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with a government attempting to revive a sluggish economy. The party has become skilled at channeling discontent on issues far beyond its traditional focus on limiting immigration, which fueled its rise in the mid‑2010s.

The AfD hopes to secure 40 % or more of the vote in the September 6 state election in Saxony‑Anhalt. Such a result could position the party for an outright majority or enable it to attract defectors from other parties, paving the way for its first state governor.

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