At the federal party conference in Essen, the Alternative for Germany party held a peaceful demonstration outside, where around 50,000 AfD opponents gathered to protest against the party’s leadership. The tensions surrounding the conference were evident as left-wing groups had announced plans to prevent delegates from attending. This led to some party members struggling to get to the conference grounds due to protests and blockades.
Inside the conference, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel were elected as co-chairmen of the AfD for another two years with almost 83 percent of delegate votes. There were no contested candidates, showing a sense of harmony within the party leadership. Weidel, in her speech, criticized established parties and accused Germany of degenerating into a “pony farm.” She also called for new elections and expressed strong opinions towards the government and current state of affairs.
Weidel also accused the Office for the Protection of the Constitution of becoming an enemy of democracy and called for its abolition. However, outside the conference, tens of thousands of people protested against the AfD with reports of violence and disruptive actions. The protests led to attacks on police forces and attempts to break through checkpoints, resulting in injuries and arrests.
Despite these incidents, it is clear that there are deep divisions within German society when it comes to issues surrounding immigration, national security, and political ideology. The far-right party faces many challenges as they navigate these complex issues while trying to maintain their popularity among voters.