Germany is preparing for mass protests at the AfD convention
Security measures are being stepped up in Germany ahead of the far-right “Alternative for Germany” party convention in Erfurt, where mass protests and potential clashes with police are expected. Law enforcement officials warn that the situation could become one of the most challenging for the country’s internal security in recent years.
German police are preparing for a large-scale wave of protests surrounding the “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party convention, scheduled for July 4–5 in Erfurt, Thuringia. According to estimates by internal security services, more than 50,000 demonstrators may attend the event, placing an increased strain on all levels of the law enforcement system.
The police are paying particular attention to the risk of radicalization among some of the protesters. Internal assessments mention the possibility of up to 2,500 people being present who are considered a potentially aggressive core and who may attempt to provoke clashes or disrupt the party event. Law enforcement officials are drawing parallels with the events of the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, when mass protests escalated into serious riots.
The AfD convention is taking place against the backdrop of growing political support for the party. According to nationwide polls, its approval rating stands at around 28%, putting it ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which stands at about 22%. It is the party’s conventions that determine its political strategy, personnel decisions, and policy guidelines ahead of election campaigns.
Thuringian police have warned of possible attempts to block access roads to the exhibition center in Erfurt, where the conference will take place. According to preliminary estimates, up to 30 blockade points could emerge around the venue, which will complicate movement and the work of emergency services. Internal documents also note the risk of so-called “blending” of protest groups, in which radical activists may operate under the cover of mass peaceful demonstrations. According to police estimates, this could create additional challenges for identifying threats and maintaining control of the situation on the ground.
According to law enforcement, the network “Widersetzen” (“Resistance”), which advocates for mass civil disobedience, as well as labor unions, climate groups, and anti-fascist organizations, is involved in mobilizing the protests. In addition, the police are analyzing calls from far-left online resources for activists from various European countries to participate. Previous AfD party events have also taken place amid clashes and tensions. In particular, a similar conference in Riesa, Saxony, was accompanied by clashes between police and protesters, which already provides law enforcement with a benchmark for how events might unfold in Erfurt. Politico reports on this.
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