Streets around the AfD conference in Erfurt filled with demonstrators on Saturday as mass protests aimed to block the party’s meeting. Police told the Associated Press they estimated more than 30,000 people took part; footage and reporting from news outlets showed scuffles and officers using batons to push back small groups.
AfD protests Erfurt: What happened
Organized counterprotests began before delegates were due to enter the conference site and swelled through the afternoon as different groups converged on the city center. Police told AP they recorded roughly 100 individual law violations, most related to property damage and graffiti, while characterizing the broader demonstration as largely peaceful.
Videos circulated by reporters and media organizations showed lines of officers moving against confrontational pockets of demonstrators. Police and local officials told reporters that while the majority of the crowd marched without incident, smaller groups staged blockades and resisted attempts to clear roads near the venue.
How the demonstrations unfolded
Protesters assembled at multiple staging points around Erfurt and formed mobile blockades intended to slow or prevent delegates from reaching the conference. Several antifascist groups and far-left collectives, including a group reported under the name “widersetzen,” said their aim was to disrupt the AfD meeting; that motive was reported by news outlets covering the scene.
Witness footage and reporting showed repeated clashes at choke points where police sought to open routes to the convention center. Media accounts, citing scene video, described officers using batons and crowd-control measures to push back clusters of agitators while escorting other attendees through cleared lanes.
A spokesperson identified in reports as Lena Raupach, speaking for a demonstrator grouping, told reporters the protests were intended to oppose what the group called the AfD’s “fascist policies.” That quote is reported as the group’s statement by the news organizations on the scene.
Police briefings, as reported by AP and other outlets, said the sequence of blockades and skirmishes forced security to repeatedly alter perimeters and contributed to logistical delays inside the conference venue.
AfD party conference and leadership result
The protests coincided with the AfD’s leadership meeting in Erfurt. News reporting from the scene and party statements said the timetable was disrupted and the leadership vote was delayed while delegates and officials dealt with access and security issues outside the venue.
According to coverage of the conference, the party moved forward with its leadership procedures amid the disruptions. Reporting named Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla in the party’s top leadership positions; party officials and media accounts provided the conference’s outcome and reaction.
At the conference, Tino Chrupalla criticized the protesters’ tactics, calling blockades and disruptive actions anti-democratic in comments carried by news outlets. The AfD denied allegations of extremism made by opponents and portrayed itself as targeted by mainstream political rivals, statements the party issued to reporters on site.
What this means for German politics
The size and intensity of the Erfurt demonstrations underscore the highly polarized climate surrounding the AfD. The party won just over 20% in the 2025 federal election and has retained a strong presence in public opinion, making it a focal point for both organized protest and political debate.
Large-scale confrontations at high-profile events may deepen divisions and shape media narratives ahead of regional and national votes. Analysts quoted in press coverage warned that repeated clashes could strengthen hardline stances on both sides while prompting scrutiny of police tactics and protest strategy.
Police characterization of the events as predominantly peaceful alongside multiple reports and videos of baton use and targeted pushbacks highlights the challenge authorities face in balancing crowd-management and protecting the right to assemble.
What comes next
Authorities said they will continue reviewing footage and incident reports to investigate the recorded law violations and determine whether arrests or follow-up actions are warranted. Political leaders and civil-society groups are likely to debate both the AfD’s leadership outcome and the methods used by demonstrators.
Observers expect the Erfurt confrontation to be referenced in upcoming campaigns and parliamentary discussions as parties and civic groups respond to both the protests and the party’s renewed mandate.
Sources: Reporting on the scene drew on accounts from the Associated Press and news organizations including Fox News. For further reading, see the Fox News report on the Erfurt demonstrations: Fox News. Associated Press coverage was cited for police estimates and incident tallies.
