Overview
- The AfD held its federal congress in Erfurt on Saturday and Sunday, July 4–5, where Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were re‑elected as the party’s top duo and Stefan Möller, a close ally of Björn Höcke, won a seat on the federal board.
- Tens of thousands demonstrated against the congress with police estimating about 31,000 participants and organisers claiming roughly 50,000 while the blockade group Widersetzen said some 17,000 people took part in targeted sit‑ins including a temporary closure of the A71 motorway.
- A large, multi‑state security operation of thousands of officers, mounted units and water cannons escorted early‑morning shuttle buses that brought delegates to the Messe Erfurt and helped the party start its meeting on time.
- Authorities reported mostly peaceful protests but opened investigations after several attacks on journalists and livestreamers, including assaults on an Apollo News team and the reported robbery of a Junge Freiheit phone.
- The weekend outcome leaves the debate over Verfassungsschutz surveillance and a possible party ban unresolved, sharpens the AfD’s organizational edge ahead of autumn state elections, and revives questions about the limits of civil disobedience versus press protection.