Despite massive protests and several road blockades, the AfD federal party convention in Erfurt started on time Saturday morning. Party chief Tino Chrupalla opened the two-day delegate meeting shortly after 10 a.m., remarking, “The early bird catches the worm.” He added that “the Antifa rioters missed their own maneuver.”
The central focus of the convention is the election of the party executive board. Current AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are running again, and there are expected to be no counter-candidates. Nevertheless, two observers suggest they may face a less favorable outcome than at the last party convention two years ago.
While debates on Saturday and Sunday are expected to remain contained, significant attention will be paid to a motion regarding the party’s incompatibilities list. Proponents of this motion, including Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke, aim to soften the rules of the list. For example, they propose that membership in organizations like the Identitarian Movement (IB) could potentially be considered “time-barred.” Höcke could also increase his influence over the federal board if his close associate, Stefan Möller, is elected as vice-chairman, as anticipated.
In related news, police provided an update on the demonstration activity. By 9 a.m., approximately 20,000 demonstrators were present. Authorities had previously anticipated around 50,000 counter-protesters, with violence also expected. However, their efforts to delay the party convention were unsuccessful, unlike in previous AfD delegate meetings.
