Riot police have clashed with opponents of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party on the streets of Erfurt, Germany, where thousands gathered to block roads and prevent AfD delegates from attending the party’s biennial national conference. Police reported that 20,000 protesters were demonstrating in the eastern city, where Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are expected to be re-elected as the party’s co-leaders ahead of crucial regional elections. The AfD could win power at state level for the first time in those elections.
Protesters stage sit-in blockades
Opponents, led by the 'Resistance' alliance, staged sit-in blockades in the city centre in an attempt to prevent the AfD’s approximately 600 delegates from reaching the conference grounds. German riot police intervened to clear the blockades, leading to clashes with protesters.
Context of the protests
The demonstrations reflect growing opposition to the AfD, which has been gaining support in eastern Germany. The party's platform focuses on anti-immigration and Eurosceptic policies, and it has been classified as a suspected extremist group by German intelligence services. The conference in Erfurt is seen as a key event ahead of regional elections in three eastern states later this year, where the AfD is polling strongly.
