Police union fears staffing shortage for AfD party conference in Erfurt

The German Police Union (GdP) has expressed concerns about potential staffing shortages for the upcoming Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference in Erfurt this weekend. Thousands of police officers are expected to be deployed to manage the event and potential mass protests against it.

Jochen Kopelke, the federal chairman of the GdP, told the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, "My concern is that the police will ultimately not have enough forces on the street for the AfD party conference." He noted that while thousands of officers are slated to come to Erfurt from across Germany, there is a risk that individual states might recall some of their promised forces due to their own security situations.

Kopelke highlighted that previous large-scale events have already strained reserve forces. He specifically pointed out that the riot police have been under significantly increased pressure since the COVID-19 pandemic due to a rise in protests. This increased burden raises concerns about the availability of sufficient personnel for the AfD conference.

The article also mentions that police officers are protecting a demonstration against the AfD in Cottbus, indicating the broader context of public opposition to the party. The situation in Erfurt is being closely monitored, with the potential for significant security challenges due to the confluence of the party conference and anticipated counter-demonstrations.

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My concern is that the police will ultimately not have enough forces on the street for the AfD party conference.