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Germany: Thousands protest AfD party conference in Saxony

January 11, 2025

Organizers said they expected more than 10,000 people to attend demonstrations in eastern Saxony state. The nationalist Alternative for Germany party is polling in second place ahead of February's federal election.

https://p.dw.com/p/4p34d
Anti-AfD protesters near train station in Riesa on the morning of Saturday January 11, 2025
The AfD's party conferences frequently attract antifascist protestersImage: EHL Media/IMAGO

Thousands of people protested in the German town of Riesa, in the eastern state of Saxony, against a gathering of the far-right  Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Organizers counted 12,000 protesters in attendance, while the police spoke of 10,000.

The AfD conference is part of the party's campaign for the February 23 Bundestag election, which was called after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government.

Polling suggests that the AfD could become the second-largest party in parliament in the election.

What do we know about the anti-AfD protest?

The start of the event was reportedly delayed by several hours.

Six police officers also sustained light injuries during operations in Riesa, state police said in a post on social media.

Organizers said that participants from 70 cities were set to arrive in over 100 buses.

They said a "small group" was blocking part of a highway near the event.

Protesters also plan to block entrances to the conference venue where the AfD campaign event is to be held.

A helicopter and drones were being used in police operations, according to the statement.

Germany's DPA news agency reported that police had use pepper spray in containing protesters.

AfD leader Alice Weidel speaks at podium with AfD logo and German flags in background
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel spoke at an event in which she was declared the party's candidate for chancellor ahead of February 23 electionsImage: Revierfoto/IMAGO

AfD's Weidel calls for 'large-scale' deportations

On Saturday, AfD leader Alice Weidel was officially declared the party's candidate for chancellor.

During the party conference, she said that the AfD planned to "tear down all wind turbines" and would put functioning nuclear power plants and the Nord Stream gas pipeline back into operation.

She said the party wants to send the message that Germany's borders are "closed" and plans to carry out "large-scale" deportations if it takes power.

Meanwhile, AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla thanked police for their efforts and accused protesters of "anti-democratic" behavior.

Riot police and police truck
Police set up a control zone in the eastern German town, saying they would ensure access to the conference hall hosting a scheduled AfD eventImage: EHL Media/IMAGO

AfD in East Germany

Saxony and a number of other states in eastern Germany are seen as strongholds of the AfD.

In the 2021 federal election, the far-right party took first place in Saxony with 24.6% of the vote, while the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won 17.4%.

In September last year, the AfD managed to become the most voted party in regional elections in Saxony and neighboring Thuringia. However, it did not manage to form government in either state due to a lack of potential coalition partners.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has classified the AfD as a "suspected" far-right extremist organization.

sdi/ab (AFP, AP, dpa, epd)