An estimated 20,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Erfurt, Germany, on Saturday to voice their opposition to the annual conference of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The protest, which saw antifascist groups blocking various roads and tram lines throughout the city, was monitored closely by riot police.
Noa Sander, a spokesperson for the anti-AfD organization Widersetzen, emphasized the goals of the gathering, stating, “We want a society based on solidarity: equal rights, equal security, the right to residence and social security for all. That is what we stand for together here in Erfurt today.”
While local authorities in Thüringen characterized the demonstration as a “legitimate” protest, they noted that the event was marred by some incidents. According to the police, an AfD constituency office and several officers were targeted with paint bombs and fireworks. Despite these disruptions, the party conference proceeded as scheduled.
The meeting is expected to result in the re-election of AfD co-leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel. These proceedings come ahead of pivotal local elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which the party views as essential to building momentum for future national success. The AfD, a Eurosceptic party known for advocating strict immigration controls and opposing Berlin’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, has recently experienced a surge in popularity. Current national polling indicates the party holds approximately 29% support, notably higher than the 22% currently held by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU coalition.
