Germany: thousands of people demonstrate against the holding of the AfD congress in Essen

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Closing ranks in the face of scandals and criticism: this is the strategy adopted by the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland, which held its congress this weekend in Essen, in western Germany. Its two leaders, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, were re-elected with a large majority and are calling for a major political overhaul.

The recent Russian and Chinese spy scandals which have affected several party officials have had no impact on his popularity. According to officials, the number of members of the Alternative für Deutschland has on the contrary been steadily increasing since 2023.

The AfD even inflicted a severe defeat on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats in the European elections, winning 15.9 percent of the vote.

“I think not everything has been done properly by all the democratic parties, but we have to show that we are working together. The problems are so complex when it comes to migration, climate change and poverty and people just think it’s easy. But the answers are not easy most of the time.” explains Julia Klewin, SPD city councilor in Essen.

This conference was so controversial that the city tried to cancel it. Local officials have tried to cancel the lease for the building where the conference is taking place, saying they fear criminal violations could occur, such as the use of Nazi slogans. But the AfD sued and won.

Throughout the weekend, thousands of people gathered outside the municipal hall where the congress was being held to block access to AfD delegates.

A thousand police officers were mobilized to ensure security in the city, where the authorities had said they feared “potentially violent far-left troublemakers“. On Saturday, however, most of the 50,000 protesters, according to the organizers, marched peacefully, carrying banners and placards. on which one could read “Resistance !” Or “Together for democracy“. Police did not provide figures on the participants.

Violence took place on several occasions between anti-AfD demonstrators and the police. HASIn total, 28 police officers were injured, two of them seriously, the police said. who says he has carried out “some arrests” during demonstrations. “Against right-wing extremism and racism, we need strong democratic forces and peaceful protests”reacted Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on X. “Nothing justifies violence”she judged.

However, the organizers of the demonstrations believe that these mobilizations contribute to changing public opinion.“We’ve seen the successful protests we’ve had here over the last six months. And that’s what we’re here for: to convince them that there are alternatives to voting for the AfD “The AfD offers short-term solutions, but they don’t think about the problems that come with them. They offer simple solutions that seem easy at first, but if you think about them in the long term, they won’t work.” says Linda Kastrup, spokeswoman for Gemeinsam laut.

In September, local elections are to be held in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. These are crucial elections for the Alternative für Deutschland, because these three eastern states are traditionally favourable to it.“We want to govern, first in the East, then in the West and at the federal level “, declared Alice Weidel. A central mission of her new mandate will be, for her, to break the sanitary cordon established by the other parties against the AfD.