Anti-AfD demonstrators gathered in Erfurt, Thuringia, on Saturday (4 Jul) as Alternative for Germany (AfD) delegates arrived for the party’s annual conference ahead of key regional elections.
German police estimated around 20,000 people attended the protests, with road blockades and a major security operation deployed across the city. Despite disruptions, the two-day conference began as scheduled.
Key developments:
- Police reported road blockades and isolated clashes, while most delegates reached the conference venue.
- AfD became Germany’s second-largest party in last year’s federal election and currently leads some opinion polls.
- Mainstream German parties continue to reject cooperation with AfD, while the party remains under scrutiny by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency over suspected anti-constitutional activities.
The demonstrations reflect ongoing political divisions as Germany prepares for regional elections, with AfD seeking further electoral gains, particularly in eastern states including Saxony-Anhalt.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
Follow on social media TikTok@tut0ughInstagram@tut0ugh Threads@tut0ugh X@tut0ugh YouTube@tut0ugh
