Thousands of protesters gathered in Erfurt on Saturday to oppose the annual conference of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party [1].

The demonstrations highlight the deep polarization within German society regarding the party's influence on national policy and its rhetoric toward minorities.

Crowd estimates varied across reports, with some sources citing more than 15,000 attendees [2] and others stating the number reached 20,000 [3]. Some reports described the turnout as tens of thousands [1]. These demonstrators gathered in the capital of Thuringia to protest the AfD's hard-line immigration stances, its racist policies, and its efforts to establish closer ties with Russia [1].

The rally led to brief scuffles between protesters and law enforcement. A Thüringen police spokesperson said the protest was "legitimate" [4]. Despite the unrest outside the venue, the conference proceeded as scheduled.

During the meeting, the party re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as its leaders [5]. The AfD continues to maintain a contentious presence in German politics, often facing backlash for its platform while simultaneously securing leadership stability through its internal elections.

Security forces remained on high alert throughout the event to prevent the scuffles from escalating into larger riots. The presence of such large crowds in Erfurt underscores the ongoing tension between the party's grassroots support and the organized opposition that views the AfD as a threat to democratic norms.

“The protest was "legitimate"”

The scale of the protests in Erfurt reflects a growing mobilization of anti-far-right sentiment in Germany, occurring simultaneously with the AfD's attempts to consolidate power. By re-electing Weidel and Chrupalla, the party signals a commitment to its current ideological trajectory, including its controversial foreign policy and immigration goals, despite significant public opposition.