Thousands protest in Germany against far‑right AfD conference

Protesters representing trade unions, civil‑society organizations and several left‑wing parties gathered in Erfurt on Saturday with the stated aim of disrupting the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s annual conference. The gathering, which was announced in advance by the AfD as its main political event of the year, attracted a crowd of several hundred demonstrators who marched toward the conference venue, a convention center on the city’s outskirts, while police deployed riot units and established perimeter barriers to contain potential disturbances.

Authorities reported that the protest remained largely peaceful, though a handful of participants attempted to breach the security cordon, resulting in a small number of arrests for trespassing and disorderly conduct. Traffic around the venue was temporarily rerouted, and the conference proceeded after a brief delay, with party officials condemning the attempts to interfere with their proceedings. The incident underscores the ongoing tension between the far‑right AfD and organized opposition groups ahead of upcoming regional elections.