Thousands protest in Erfurt as Germany's far-right AfD party reelects leadership at annual conference

On July 4, 2026, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were re-elected as co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party at its national convention in Erfurt, securing 81% and 70% of delegate votes respectively. The event drew massive protests, with police estimating between 20,000 and 31,000 demonstrators blocking roads and tram tracks. While the protests were mostly peaceful, minor clashes occurred, leading to approximately 60 arrests. The AfD continues to lead polls in eastern Germany ahead of key state elections.

AfD leadership reelection

• ▪The Alternative for Germany party's leadership vote on July 4, 2026, was disrupted by a hidden Bluetooth speaker playing the Star Wars Imperial March
• ▪Stefan Möller was promoted to deputy federal spokesperson of the Alternative for Germany party on July 4, 2026, to manage legal disputes with security services
• ▪Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were re-elected as co-leaders of the Alternative for Germany party at its national convention in Erfurt on July 4, 2026
• ▪Mainstream German political parties have maintained a policy of refusing to cooperate or form coalitions with the Alternative for Germany party
• ▪Alice Weidel secured 81 percent of the delegate votes, while Tino Chrupalla received 70 percent of the votes during the leadership election on July 4, 2026
• ▪The Alternative for Germany party led polling in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt at 42 percent ahead of elections scheduled for September 2026

Anti-AfD protests in Erfurt

• ▪German police arrested approximately 60 people and used pepper spray and batons during clashes with some protesters in Erfurt on July 4, 2026
• ▪German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and Thuringia State Interior Minister Georg Maier participated in the protests in Erfurt on July 4, 2026
• ▪Protesters in Erfurt blocked roads, abseiled from a motorway bridge, and glued themselves to tram tracks to disrupt the party convention
• ▪Between 20,000 and 31,000 people demonstrated in Erfurt, Germany, on July 4, 2026, to protest against the Alternative for Germany party convention