Tens of thousands rallied in Erfurt against the far-right party’s national congress, but the demonstrations failed to delay a gathering that underscored AfD’s growing confidence and electoral ambitions.
ERFURT, Germany — Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Erfurt on Saturday in a large protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany party, known as AfD, as the party opened its annual congress under heavy police protection.
The demonstrations brought together trade unions, civil society groups, left-wing organizations and ordinary citizens who accused AfD of promoting extremism, racism and anti-democratic politics. Protesters blocked roads leading to the Erfurt Exhibition Center and attempted to disrupt the arrival of delegates, but the congress began on schedule.
Police deployed in large numbers across the city as activists staged sit-ins, road blockades and other actions aimed at preventing party members from reaching the venue. According to reports, many delegates arrived hours before the official opening to avoid disruption, allowing the hall to fill early and the event to start on time.
Estimates of the crowd varied. Euronews reported around 20,000 protesters, while The Associated Press cited about 31,000 people taking part in demonstrations against the party.
The protest reflected mounting concern over AfD’s rise in German politics. Once treated as a fringe movement, the party has become a major force, especially in eastern Germany. It finished second in Germany’s 2025 national election with 20.8 percent of the vote and is now the largest opposition party in the Bundestag.
Inside the congress, AfD sought to project unity and momentum. The party re-elected its co-leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have overseen its recent surge in support. The gathering also came ahead of important regional elections, including a September vote in Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD hopes to enter government at state level for the first time.
The timing and location of the congress added to the controversy. Erfurt is in Thuringia, a state where AfD’s hard-right wing has long held influence, and the meeting took place near Weimar on the centenary of a Nazi Party gathering in the region. Critics said the symbolism was provocative, while AfD leaders defended the congress as a legitimate political event.
Clashes broke out in some areas between police and demonstrators, although authorities described much of the protest activity as broadly peaceful. Reports said some protesters tried to block access routes, while police intervened to keep roads open and protect delegates entering the venue.
AfD rejects accusations that it poses a threat to German democracy. The party has built its appeal around hardline positions on immigration, criticism of mainstream parties and opposition to parts of Germany’s foreign policy, including sanctions on Russia. Its critics argue that its rhetoric has pushed the country’s political debate further to the right.
Mainstream German parties continue to maintain a so-called firewall against cooperation with AfD, refusing coalition deals with the party despite its rising vote share. That strategy, however, is under increasing pressure as AfD gains strength in opinion polls and becomes harder to exclude from regional power calculations.
Saturday’s scenes in Erfurt captured the central tension in German politics: a growing far-right party seeking to prove it is ready for power, and a broad protest movement determined to keep it outside the democratic mainstream.
The congress may have started on time, but the size of the demonstrations showed that AfD’s rise is likely to face fierce resistance on the streets as well as in parliament.
