Federal Party Convention in Erfurt: AfD Reorganizes Amid Major Protests

The largest rally, with around 15,000 participants, has been registered by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). In addition to the action alliance "Widersetzen" (Resist), according to MDR information, the Left, the Greens, trade unions, and other groups have also called for protests. "We must prepare for a difficult situation," Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) had said a few days ago. According to MDR, the city expects a total of 31 registered actions around the party convention. An estimated 35,000 to 50,000 demonstrators are expected.

The action alliance "Widersetzen" aims, according to its own statements, to prevent the federal party convention from taking place. On the Indymedia platform, a call reads "Dächer besetzen – AfD-Bundesparteitag verhindern" (Occupy roofs – prevent the AfD federal party convention). As early as May 9, 2026, "Widersetzen Erfurt" had, according to the Federal Government's response to a parliamentary inquiry by the AfD parliamentary group, called for a campaign in which, according to the inquirers, 60,000 households in Erfurt were approached through personal visits and the distribution of informational materials. The Federal Government stated that it had neither supported nor supports this campaign.

AfD Parliamentary Group's Inquiry

The AfD parliamentary group's inquiry (21/6446) and the Federal Government's response (21/6756) cover the years 2020 to 2026. The Federal Government pointed out that responding "would in any case be unreasonable within the available timeframe and to this extent." Members of parliament had referenced, among other things, the call by the "Widersetzen" action alliance as well as the "Zusammenstehen" (Stand Together) call initiated by the German Trade Union Confederation.

Jochen Kopelke, chairman of the Police Union (GdP), expressed concern in a conversation with the Funke Media Group: "Meine Sorge ist, dass die Polizei für den AfD-Parteitag am Ende nicht genügend Kräfte auf die Straße bekommt." Kopelke added that the whole situation "lässt eine Eskalation der Proteste befürchten." Many demonstrators see themselves as the "letzte Bastion gegen den Aufstieg der extremen Rechten in Deutschland."

Domestic Intelligence and Party Leadership

For the AfD itself, the convention takes place under the shadow of a nationwide classification as a suspected right-wing extremist case by the domestic intelligence service, as well as confirmed right-wing extremism classifications in four federal states. According to the Federal Interior Ministry, the current domestic intelligence report mentions 28,000 extremists within the AfD. The party leadership is fighting back against this assessment.

In the ARD "Interview der Woche" (Interview of the Week), Tino Chrupalla criticized the domestic intelligence agency. "Ich muss mich gegen was rechtfertigen, wo ich nicht weiß, was mir konkret vorgeworfen wird. Also die Schuldumkehr machen wir bitte noch nicht," the co-chair said. Chrupalla defined right-wing extremism as the use of violence against the free democratic basic order and emphasized: "Für mich ist Rechtsextremismus das, wenn man mit Gewalt gegen die freiheitlich-demokratische Grundordnung vorgeht, wenn man gegen das Grundgesetz verstößt. Und das sehe ich bei unseren Mitgliedern nicht." The AfD views the domestic intelligence service's definition of extremism as "vage und berechnend willkürlich."

At the same time, Chrupalla worked toward internal unity. "Nach vier Jahren gemeinsamer Arbeit an der Parteispitze darf ich durchaus sagen, dass ich Alice Weidel richtig gern habe," he said. About his co-chair: "Wir mögen uns." At the same time, he pointed to a division of labor: "Es ist eine Arbeitsaufteilung zwischen uns." And he emphasized: "Wir sind ja keine siamesischen Zwillinge, dass wir im Wortklang alles gleich sagen müssen." Regarding the future of the dual leadership, he said: "Aktuell kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, die Partei alleine führen zu müssen oder zu wollen." The dual leadership "habe sich bewährt."

Within the party, the abolition of the dual leadership is nevertheless repeatedly discussed. At the last federal party convention two years ago in Essen, Chrupalla received just under 83 percent approval, slightly ahead of Weidel's roughly 80 percent, which she reportedly did not find amusing at the time. How much support both will receive this time is considered a key indicator.

Höcke's Shadow Over the Convention

At the same time, the influence of Thuringian state and parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke is at the center of attention. In an analysis with Pauline von Pezold of "Inside AfD," Rixa Fürsen explores how much Höcke wants to shape the convention and where he might fail. Observers point out that foreign policy topics controversially debated within the party—including the relationship with Russia—have been excluded in the lead-up. Political scientist Benjamin Höhne of Chemnitz University of Technology told the STANDARD that this includes, for example, the AfD's stance on Russia.

Höcke had spoken in the state parliament about possible "bürgerkriegsähnlichen Zuständen" (civil war-like conditions). The AfD state leadership in Thuringia has consisted of a leadership duo with Höcke and Stefan Möller since 2014. Regarding Möller's candidacy for the federal executive board, Höcke told dpa: "Ich weiß, wenn Stefan Möller im Bundesvorstand ist, dann habe ich jemanden, mit dem ich im engsten Austausch bin, ich bin angeschlossen, ohne selbst die Arbeit machen zu müssen."

Chrupalla also criticized the attempts by the Left and the Greens to prevent the convention. The right to hold a party convention is protected by the Basic Law: "Das ist absolut vom Grundgesetz gedeckt." And he added: "Und dass man sich so etwas mittlerweile erkämpfen muss, zeigt eigentlich die gesamte Situation in Deutschland." Addressing the protesters, he said: "Wenn man Straßen blockiert, hoffe ich, dass der Rechtsstaat auch hier dementsprechend reagiert." The accused must be given the opportunity to defend themselves: "Man muss auch dem Gegenüber und auch den Personen, die man beschuldigt, die Möglichkeit geben, sich dagegen zu wehren. Ich denke, das gehört auch in einem Rechtsstaat dazu."

Debate About a Prohibition Procedure

Chrupalla and Weidel have publicly clashed in the past, including on the issue of military service and the approach toward Russia. In his autobiography, Chrupalla nevertheless writes of "angenehmer Harmonie" with Weidel. The federal executive board reportedly aims for a clearer division of tasks to reduce friction in the future.

Parallel to the convention, the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) has presented a new expert opinion on a possible prohibition application against the AfD. Team leader Bijan Moini said: "Ein AfD-Verbotsantrag hätte nach unserer Einschätzung wahrscheinlich Erfolg." For the expert opinion, the team spent 13 months evaluating speeches, parliamentary protocols, statements, and social media posts by the AfD. CDU member of parliament Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker told the GFF: "Wir haben allen Anlass, dem Gericht diese Prüfung zu ermöglichen."

The fact that the date chosen by the AfD falls exactly 100 years after the NSDAP Reich Party Convention of 1926 in Weimar increases the "Wut und Entschlossenheit" (anger and determination) of AfD opponents, according to observers. On the Indymedia platform, the call speaks of the "größten Mobilisierung in der Geschichte der antifaschistischen Bewegung."

Mood in Thuringia

In an MDRfragt survey on the mood in Thuringia, in which more than 6,000 people participated, a narrow majority of 52 percent cannot understand the planned actions. 45 percent of respondents express understanding for the protests. Generally, protest is viewed ambivalently in the survey: 49 percent consider demonstrations to be more divisive, 28 percent as something that can unite society. At the same