AfD victory in state elections alarms Berlin; thousands protest party congress

Thousands protested the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress in Erfurt, with up to 50,000 demonstrators aiming to disrupt the event. The AfD, currently polling at 29% nationwide, is the strongest party in Germany. Protesters gathered in the Thuringian capital as the right-populist party held its convention.

Despite the protests, AfD delegates arrived early by bus, bypassing planned blockades. Demonstrations remained largely peaceful, with only minor clashes reported. Inside the convention hall, a soundtrack from "Star Wars" played unexpectedly, a detail that reportedly annoyed the party leadership. Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, presented himself as a confident figure, posing for selfies.

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The AfD is here to win. And we will win, and we will govern.

AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Timo Chrupalla were re-elected and projected confidence in their party's future. Chrupalla, a master painter from Görlitz, stated, "The AfD is here to win. And we will win, and we will govern," setting a goal to take government responsibility in 2029 and gain an additional four to five percent of the vote. He also cautioned that the path to power involves "disappointments and setbacks" and urged party unity, acknowledging internal frictions and the blurring lines with the far-right.

Weidel, a former management consultant, announced the party's intention to claim the chancellorship after the next federal election, preparing to be the strongest force in government. She was elected the party's number one, surpassing Chrupalla in the leadership vote. Weidel declared the AfD's aim to "turn Germany upside down." The party is currently prioritizing upcoming state elections. The influence of Björn Höcke, the AfD leader in Thuringia and head of the party's völkisch wing, along with Weidel and Chrupalla's speeches, has drawn national political attention. The domestic intelligence agency officially suspects the AfD of spreading right-wing extremism, and the election of Stefan Möller, a Höcke confidant, as a vice-chair strengthened the party's ultra-right faction.

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The AfD wants to turn Germany upside down.