Thousands Protest Against Far-Right AfD Congress in Thuringia

On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Erfurt, the capital of the German state of Thuringia, to protest against the party congress of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The protesters blocked access roads to the conference center where the party meeting is taking place.

According to police estimates, around 15,000 people joined the demonstrations in and around Erfurt. The protests were organized by trade unions, civil society groups, and left-wing parties. Under police surveillance, demonstrators sat in rows, blocking highways and roads leading to the convention center.

The party congress is expected to re-elect AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. This comes ahead of key state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which the party hopes will pave the way for far-right success at the national level.

Earlier, German police had warned that up to 50,000 protesters might attend the demonstrations against the AfD congress. In June, a Bavarian court ruled that the state's domestic intelligence service may continue monitoring the party. Additionally, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned about the dangers of the AfD's strengthening, particularly due to its stance on Russia.