AfD faces internal conflict and public protests in Germany

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is facing simultaneous public backlash and internal power struggles. In Bielefeld, pharmacist Elisabeth Kutter, owner of the Panda-Apotheke, sparked controversy after asking supporters of the AfD to avoid her business. This led to protests, including an AfD information stand set up directly in front of her pharmacy, and online harassment where her business was renamed on various platforms.

Concurrently, the AfD in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is experiencing a deep internal rift. Tensions have escalated following a recent appearance by party leader Alice Weidel in Leverkusen, where NRW state leader Martin Vincentz was notably excluded from the event. This exclusion has fueled a power struggle between factions as the party prepares for the 2027 state elections, with members competing for influence over candidate lists.