Germany’s far-right AfD reelects leadership duo – DW – 06/29/2024

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) reelected Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel to another two-year term as joint party leaders on Saturday.

Chrupalla said he was “a bit overwhelmed” after receiving 82.72% support from members at the party conference in the western city of Essen. Weidel received 79.77% of the vote.

Both leaders saw an increase in support compared with the party’s last congress two years ago. The pair were unopposed in the vote by around 600 delegates gathered at an indoor arena.

In her opening speech to the conference ahead of the vote, Weidel attacked the governing coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“Dear government, finally get out of here and clear the way for new elections,” she said, before adding that firewalls against the AfD were not necessary.

Weidel was referring to the refusal by Germany’s mainstream parties to work with the far-right party.

Chrupalla, meanwhile, said the AfD was “stronger than ever” after the two leaders had “brought peace” to the once-divided party.

He also emphasized the growth of the party’s membership. According to him, the AfD now has 46,881 members, 17,723 more than at the beginning of 2023. It is expected that the membership will exceed 50,000 by the fall, he added. 

Reporting from inside the AfD congress, Michaela Küfner, DW’s chief political correspondent, said:

“What the AfD is doing is focusing on what it knows best  — which is its anti-migration stance. It has just proven that [it is a force to be reckoned with] in the European elections. And despite reports that there could be infighting here, the current heads of the party Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla just got reelected. So clearly, the AfD is set to capitalize on the issue it knows best.”

Protesters and police clash outside AfD congress

Earlier Saturday, police used pepper spray and batons to stop a large group of protesters breaking through a cordon, near where the congress was being held.

It was not clear if demonstrators were injured in the incident, which occurred at around 5:45 am (0345 GMT), but police said they made several arrests and some officers were attacked.

At one stage, a few hundred protesters blocked the exit ramp of a motorway and others occupied streets and intersections near the site where the congress is being held.

“At one stage, AfD politicians and members needed police protection to get to the venue,” DW political correspondent Alex Gerst said, adding that the protest had calmed down by mid-afternoon.

“Yes, there were clashes but fewer than expected. Mostly, it was a peaceful protest by members of church congregations, the Fridays for Future [climate movement] and Grandmothers Against the Far Right (Omas gegen Rechts). They all came together to send the message that the city of Essen does not welcome the AfD party congress.”