BERLIN (AP) — The far-right Alternative for Germany opened a congress on Saturday after a strong showing in recent European elections, when opponents held large-scale protests and some demonstrators tried to block roads or clashed with police.
Alternative for Germany, or the AfD, won 15.9% of the vote and finished second in the European Parliament elections on June 9, despite a series of scandals and setbacks in recent months. A particularly strong turnout in the former communist east has boosted hopes of emerging as the strongest party in the region’s three state elections in September.
At the regular two-day convention in the western city of Essen, co-leaders Alice Weidel And Tino Chrupalla they are expected to stand for a new term.
There was a heavy police presence in the city, where local authorities had tried to find a way to prevent the AfD event but had lost their case in court. In total, up to 100,000 people were expected at a series of counter-demonstrations and other events over the weekend, German news agency dpa reported.
On Friday night, about 5,000 people took part in a peaceful anti-AfD rave called “Bass against Hatred,” police said. Early Saturday morning, a group of protesters tried to break through a barrier and were pushed back by police using pepper spray and batons.
There were also incidents of masked protesters attacking officers, police said, reporting “several” arrests.
Protesters held sit-ins on streets and intersections near the Assembly Hall. Several AfD lawmakers said they were picked up by police at their hotel and escorted to the location, while other deputies were able to walk there without any problems, dpa reported.
Weidel told delegates as she opened the meeting that “what is happening there has nothing to do with democracy” and promised that “we are here and we will stay.”
