Thousands protest AfD congress in Erfurt but fail to block it as party re-elects Weidel and Chrupalla

Protesters block roads but congress goes on

Thousands of protesters attempted to prevent the AfD party congress in Erfurt, Thuringia, on Saturday morning. The alliance "Widersetzen" (Resist), together with trade unions, the Left party, the Greens and other groups, had called for roadblocks and sit-ins to stop the 600 delegates from reaching the exhibition centre. Despite cutting the A71 motorway and other access roads, and eight activists gluing themselves to tram tracks, police said delegates "were able to reach the fair without major obstacles".

We cut the main access roads. We had won even before the day began. We have built a tremendous movement of resistance. Antifascist resistance is essential.

Police had prepared for between 35,000 and 50,000 participants and had warned internally of up to 2,500 left-wing extremists ready to use violence. By early afternoon, however, no arrests had been reported, though officers used batons and pepper spray in some interventions. The force described its approach to the roadblocks as "friendly and communicative".

Delegates arrive before dawn

To circumvent the protests, which were announced for as early as 5:30 a.m. local time, many delegates travelled to the exhibition centre hours before the official 10:00 a.m. start. Some arrived around 4:00 a.m. with a police escort. This tactic contrasted with the 2024 congress in Essen, where protests had delayed the opening. This time, the party leadership was determined to avoid a repeat.

Leaders mock protesters and tout poll lead

Co-leader Tino Chrupalla opened the congress by mocking the "antifa" demonstrators.

That's how it is when you're used to sleeping late while hardworking citizens get up every day to go to work.

He added that he hoped the day would remain peaceful so the party could "send a signal for Germany and show that today the time of Germany begins with the Alternative for Germany". Chrupalla and Alice Weidel are standing for re-election as co-leaders with a unity message: "First the country, then the party, then the individual."

Weidel used her speech to denounce the "firewall" maintained by other parties against the AfD, which is currently polling at 27–29% nationally, well ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU at 22%. She accused the conservatives of pursuing "politics against Germans" and promised "rigorous deportations" and "security" for all. The party also won 32.8% of the vote in Thuringia two years ago, making it the strongest force there.

Firewall holds as AfD surges

Founded over a decade ago, the AfD has built its support on nationalist rhetoric, stricter immigration policies and appeals to frustrated voters, especially in the former communist east. Its opponents accuse it of pursuing racist, fascist policies incompatible with Germany's democratic order. The party denies this and earlier this year obtained a court order forcing the domestic intelligence service to suspend its classification of the AfD as "extremist".

Of course we want to prevent the fascist AfD party from meeting undisturbed in the exhibition hall and hatching its plans there. We want to make clear that we will not tolerate this.

The AfD pursues fascist policies. It seeks mass deportations and terror in the streets.

Despite the large turnout, the protests did not disrupt the congress. Widersetzen nevertheless called the mobilisation a success, and the party leadership presented the smooth opening as a victory over its opponents.