Less than four hours before the official start of the AfD party convention in Erfurt, counter-protests had already begun. According to police reports, several sit-in blockades took place early in the morning.
For instance, the B4 road was blocked as it entered the city near the Gispersleben junction. Approximately 300 people staged a sit-in blockade on the A71 near Gispersleben, traveling in the direction of Schweinfurt. Additionally, about 50 individuals gathered on Clara-Zetkin-Straße, while roughly 800 people collected in Gothaer Platz in Erfurt, leading to the suspension of tram traffic.
Police estimate that nearly 200 tour buses carrying protest participants had arrived in Erfurt by around 6 a.m., and many more people were traveling from surrounding areas on foot. Authorities anticipate a total of around 50,000 opposing demonstrators and are preparing for possible violent clashes.
AfD party conventions have frequently been accompanied by protests in the past, often causing delays in the scheduled proceedings. This particular delegate meeting focuses on electing the party chairman. The current AfD leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, will once again be running for the position.
