During the national convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) held on Saturday, delegates overwhelmingly reelected the party’s leadership, including Alice Weidel. The meeting took place amid significant tension, as tens of thousands of protesters gathered to disrupt the proceedings, leading to several clashes with law enforcement.
Seeking to project a sense of internal unity, the AfD reaffirmed its leadership by re-electing co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. Ms. Weidel secured 81% of the vote, while Mr. Chrupalla received 70% support. Under party regulations, leadership elections are held every two years.
The demonstrations in the eastern city of Erfurt highlight the profound polarization within Germany. While the AfD has emerged as the nation’s largest opposition force and maintains a dominant position in Germany’s former communist eastern states, its rise continues to trigger intense social friction.
Despite the protests, party officials stated that the convention proceeded as scheduled, defending their “fundamental, legally guaranteed right” to hold the gathering.
Addressing the opposition, Mr. Chrupalla criticized the demonstrators, describing them as “troublemakers” and the “last resort of political rivals,” while rejecting calls for blockades.
The convention also faced criticism due to its timing, as it coincided with the 100th anniversary of a Nazi Party meeting held in the same vicinity. While historians and political opponents suggest this carries heavy symbolic weight, the AfD has dismissed these accusations.
AfD Faces Political ‘Firewall’ Amid Surging Support
The AfD has seen a dramatic rise in influence, securing 20.8% of the vote in the February 2025 national elections—the most successful performance by a far-right party in Germany since the end of World War II. Recent polling suggests the party’s support has continued to climb, making it a leading political force.
While some activists are calling for a formal ban on the party, legal experts note that Germany’s supreme court maintains an exceptionally high threshold for such a measure. Even as Ms. Weidel identifies 2026 as a pivotal year for the party, mainstream political entities continue to maintain a “firewall,” refusing to enter into coalitions with the AfD.
According to reports from the news agency dpa, approximately 31,000 people participated in Saturday’s protests. Most demonstrations were peaceful, with participants carrying signs against far-right ideologies and in support of diversity.
Lena Raupach, a spokesperson for the anti-fascist alliance “widersetzen,” expressed the group’s intent to obstruct the convention, arguing that the AfD’s policies on mass deportation and economic priorities serve the wealthy rather than the working class.
The party’s legal status remains a point of contention. While Germany’s domestic intelligence agency previously classified the AfD as a proven right-wing extremist group, a court in Cologne recently suspended the designation while a legal challenge is being reviewed. The AfD maintains that these investigations are politically motivated.
Potential for Major Gains in Upcoming State Elections
The AfD is successfully tapping into public frustration regarding the current government’s economic reforms. Beyond its focus on migration, the party has expanded its platform to address broader economic discontent.
The party is currently eyeing a significant victory in the upcoming September 6 state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where it aims to capture at least 40% of the vote. Such a result could position the AfD to lead a government or hold significant leverage in regional politics.
“We will win,” Mr. Chrupalla declared, suggesting that the party may soon be in a position to govern alone. He framed the convention as a victory over those he described as “enemies of democracy.”
The party’s platform includes calls to lift sanctions against Russia and opposition to military aid for Ukraine. Additionally, the party has adopted rhetoric reminiscent of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, with regional leaders invoking similar themes of national renewal.
