At the federal party conference in Essen, the Alternative for Germany party leadership remained unchanged with Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel being re-elected as co-chairs for another two years. The lack of contested candidates demonstrated a sense of unity within the party leadership. In her speech, Weidel criticized the established parties and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, accusing Germany of becoming a “pony farm”. She called for new elections and expressed strong opinions towards the government and current state of affairs.
Outside the conference, tens of thousands of people protested against the AfD, with reports of violence and disruptive actions. Left-wing groups had announced plans to prevent delegates from attending, leading some party members to struggle getting to the conference grounds due to protests and blockades. Police reported that there were attacks on police forces and attempts to break through checkpoints, resulting in injuries and arrests.
Despite these tensions, around 50,000 AfD opponents gathered peacefully in front of Grugahalle where the party conference was held. The demonstration remained peaceful initially with no reports of violence. The deep divisions within German society and challenges faced by the far-right party are evident in these events surrounding the conference and its leadership.
