Germany: Thousands protest AfD congress in Erfurt

Thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators converged on Erfurt, Germany, on Saturday, July 4th, disrupting traffic and public transport in an effort to prevent the annual congress of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Police deployed in significant numbers to secure the event, with approximately 20,000 people reportedly arriving in large bus convoys to protest.

The alliance of counter-demonstrators, named "Resistance," blocked access routes to the city. Some protesters rappelled from a highway bridge, while others gathered in central streets and squares. Despite these actions, most AfD delegates managed to reach the congress center, and the event commenced on schedule. The initial hours of the demonstrations were peaceful, with only minor skirmishes reported.

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Expressing opinions is legitimate (...) violence and vandalism are not.

Erfurt's mayor, Andreas Horn, emphasized the legitimacy of expressing opinions while condemning violence and vandalism. The congress agenda includes the re-election of AfD co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have positioned the anti-immigration and pro-Russian party as the country's leading opposition force. Critics argue that combating the AfD is a duty, citing Germany's Nazi past and the party's alleged efforts to dismantle the nation's culture of remembrance.

Some view the choice of Erfurt for the AfD congress, near the 100th anniversary of a infamous Nazi congress in Weimar, as a deliberate provocation, though the AfD attributes it to a calendar coincidence. AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla criticized the protesters, suggesting they were brought in by establishment parties and were protesting democratic decision-making, believing they alone held a monopoly on democracy. Some AfD members appeared to anticipate a confrontation, with one writing, "The countdown to civil war in Erfurt has begun."

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They protest against democratic decision-making. They think they are the only ones who hold democracy.