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AfD's Erfurt Congress Re‑elects Leaders Amid Massive Protests
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) held its 17th federal party congress in Erfurt. Delegates re‑elected co‑leaders Alice Weidel (81.3 % of votes) and Tino Chrupalla (≈70 %), confirming the duo for another term. The congress also saw a reshuffle of the federal board, with Stefan Möller and Katrin Ebner‑Steiner gaining vice‑presidencies and Hannes Gnauck becoming treasurer.
Outside the venue, up to 31 000 demonstrators gathered in the city, while blockades on the A71 motorway and city streets involved roughly 10 000 participants. Police deployed several thousand officers, reporting an overall “predominantly peaceful” operation but noting 65 offences, 13 administrative breaches, eleven lightly injured officers and attacks on journalists, including physical assaults on three media workers. The police chief praised the operation as “100 % successful” and highlighted the coordination of municipal and state forces.
Analysts note that the congress emphasized party unity, with little internal debate and a shift toward decision‑making by senior functionaries rather than rank‑and‑file members. The re‑election of the leadership and the new board appointments are viewed as positioning the AfD for upcoming state elections in Saxony‑Anhalt, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Berlin.