Thousands of protesters have blocked roads and surrounded the convention center in Erfurt, Germany, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds its annual national conference.

 

Thousands of protesters have blocked roads and surrounded the convention center in Erfurt, Germany, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds its annual national conference.

Key developments from the event include:

• Leadership Re-election: Party chiefs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are being re-elected to project strength as the party surges to the top of national opinion polls.
• Mass Demonstrations: Estimates place the number of demonstrators at around 15,000 to 20,000, representing unions, civil society, and left-wing groups.
• Protester Clashes: Demonstrators have utilized sit-in blockades and abseiled from motorway bridges in an effort to prevent delegates from reaching the venue. Some clashes with riot police have been reported, with objects like fireworks thrown at police.
• Controversial Timing: The timing of the conference is highly controversial, as it overlaps with a historical Nazi party meeting nearby that consolidated Adolf Hitler's power.
• Party Platform: Inside the convention, delegates are doubling down on hardline anti-immigration policies