Thuringia interior minister warns against blockades ahead of AfD party conference in Erfurt

Protest plans and blockades

Multiple civil society alliances have called for protests against the AfD’s federal party conference in Erfurt on 4 and 5 July. The alliance “Widersetzen”, supported by the Left Party, plans blockades to prevent the conference entirely. Some Left Party members of the Bundestag intend to join the blockades. The SPD Thuringia, chaired by Interior Minister Georg Maier, is part of the “Zusammenstehen” alliance, which expects 50,000 participants at its demonstration. In total, 20 counter-events have been registered, with estimated participation between 50,000 and 70,000 people.

Official warnings

Interior Minister Maier told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that a blockade aimed at preventing the conference “is not covered by freedom of assembly” and that police would enforce assembly law. He appealed for peaceful protest, saying violence “would only benefit the AfD”. Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) also called for peaceful protest, describing 4 July as a day for democrats to link arms and show that democracy, freedom and the rule of law must be lived.

“A prevention blockade is not covered by freedom of assembly.”

“4 July is the day when democrats link arms and together make clear: we can only live democracy, freedom and the rule of law if we also fill them with life.”

Historical parallel

Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora memorial sites, noted that on 4 July 1926 the NSDAP held its first Reich party conference after the party ban in Weimar. He said he does not believe the date and location are a coincidence, and that Thuringia was a springboard for the Nazis to power in all of Germany. Wagner opposed blockades, arguing the AfD wants images of blockades and violent clashes.

“On 4 July 1926 the NSDAP held its first Reich party conference after the party ban in Weimar. I do not believe the AfD that this date and this location are a coincidence.”

Parliamentary debate

In a special session of the Thuringian state parliament requested by the AfD faction, Maier said he does not expect “civil war-like conditions”, contrary to claims by AfD parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke. Höcke had warned that Erfurt could be in a state of emergency and spoke of possible “civil war-like conditions”. All parliamentary groups called for peaceful protests. The Left Party announced it would send seven state parliament members as observers to the mass protests.