Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds its national convention while thousands of protesters gather outside in an attempt to disrupt the meeting. Multiple outlets report that delegates overwhelmingly reelect key leaders, including Alice Weidel. The party’s leaders characterize the demonstration as anti-democratic, according to reports from the convention.
Outside the venue, several accounts describe clashes between protesters and police. Police scuffle with demonstrators shortly after the leadership vote, and at least some protesters try to breach or interfere with the gathering. Police are described as using riot gear or clashing with demonstrators during the unrest.
Other reporting places the protests in a wider political context, noting that AfD is a major opposition force nationally and has strong support in parts of Germany, including the former communist east. The coverage also emphasizes that the party’s growing popularity is accompanied by significant divisions in German society, reflected in the scale of the demonstrations and the public disorder outside the convention.
