AfD Re-elects Leaders Amidst Large Anti-Fascist Protests

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has re-elected its co-leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, during its party congress held in Erfurt.

The congress proceeded as planned despite significant opposition, with tens of thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators gathering across the country to protest the event and attempt to block access. The party, which has positioned itself as anti-immigration and pro-Russian, has become the main opposition force in Germany following the 2025 legislative elections.

Alice Weidel declared the AfD to be "the new people's party in Germany" during her speech. The party is performing strongly in opinion polls, particularly in eastern Germany, where regional elections are scheduled for September. The congress took place in the state of Thuringia, a region known as a stronghold for a more radical faction within the AfD.