AfD party congress in Erfurt draws massive left‑wing protest plan

The far‑right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is set to hold its federal party congress in Erfurt on 4 July 2026, exactly a century after the 1926 NSDAP rally in Weimar. The event has sparked a coordinated response from left‑wing parties, trade unions and activist groups, who aim to mobilise tens of thousands of demonstrators to block access routes and stage sit‑ins. Buses are being organised from Cologne and other cities, and the North‑Rhine Westphalia branch of the Ver.di union has offered to reimburse travel costs for its members.

Police anticipate a large turnout, deploying around 6 000 officers and estimating up to 35 000 protesters, including a possible 1 000 individuals identified as potentially violent left‑wing extremists. AfD representatives defend the right to assemble, while critics within the Green Party warn that deliberately preventing another party’s congress risks legal liability and undermines democratic principles. The planned protest reflects broader concerns about the AfD’s perceived neo‑fascist rhetoric and its rising electoral prospects in several German states.