AfD federal party conference in Erfurt proceeds despite mass protests and blockades
AfD federal party conference in Erfurt proceeded as police secured the venue amid mass protests, blockades and transport disruptions that drew tens of thousands.
The AfD federal party conference in Erfurt went ahead on schedule Saturday morning despite large-scale demonstrations and targeted blockades around the trade fair complex. Organisers and police published divergent attendance figures for the protests, while law enforcement described one of the largest deployments in Thuringia in recent years. Delegates were able to reach the Messehalle overnight and the party event opened as planned.
Protests mobilised tens of thousands
Organisers of the anti-AfD coalition Widersetzen said the weekend’s actions mobilised roughly 50,000 people across Erfurt. The group counted both rallies and direct-action blockades among its activities and highlighted widespread participation in attempts to impede party delegates.
Police offered lower figures, reporting up to 31,000 people registered at various assemblies and about 10,000 participants in blockade actions in their initial public tally. Authorities noted more than 30 separate, registered demonstrations across the city during the two-day period.
AfD conference began on schedule despite blockades
Hundreds of AfD delegates reached the Messehalle overnight, according to police and event observers, allowing the conference to open as planned on Saturday morning. City officials and police representatives said there was no measurable impact on the internal proceedings of the party throughout the first day.
Organisers of the protests acknowledged that their stated objective—to prevent the federal party conference from taking place—was not achieved. They nonetheless framed tactical successes in terms of complicating travel and logistics for individual party members.
Largest recent police deployment in Thuringia
Thuringian police described the operation as one of the largest deployments in the state in recent years, mobilising officers from Thuringia, other federal states and the Federal Police. Authorities said several thousand personnel were involved in protecting assembly routes, securing the Messehalle and keeping key transport corridors accessible.
Police command emphasized coordination between regional units and federal forces to manage both scheduled rallies and spontaneous blockade attempts. Officials also pointed to the complexity of simultaneously policing conventional demonstrations and disruptive direct-action tactics.
Transport disruptions and access challenges
Protest actions produced tangible disruptions to local transport infrastructure, according to police and municipal statements. Authorities temporarily suspended tram services in parts of central Erfurt and closed the A71 motorway between the Erfurter Kreuz and the Gispersleben junction until Saturday afternoon.
Blockades, abseil actions and intermittent closures along principal access roads to the trade fair created delays and forced route diversions for delegates and local traffic. Police maintained buffer zones around the venue while clearing some choke points to preserve emergency access and permit arrivals.
Criminal incidents and investigations under way
By midday Sunday police reported 65 criminal offences and 13 administrative violations linked to the weekend’s events, chiefly property damage, assaults and assembly-law breaches. Eleven officers sustained minor injuries while carrying out duties, the force said.
Investigations remain open into several higher-profile incidents, including a suspected breach attempt near Frienstedt that is being examined for possible breach of the peace, alleged attacks on media personnel and the use of multiple drones in airspace designated as prohibited for the event. Authorities said those matters were being scrutinised further.
Organisers defend civil disobedience and pledge strategic review
Widersetzen spokespeople framed the blockades as deliberate civil disobedience intended to confront the AfD’s ability to convene unopposed. Suraj Mailitafi said the broader aim of stopping the conference had not been met, but added that any action that made travel harder for AfD members counted as a tactical gain.
Noa Sander, another spokesman for the coalition, defended the use of blockades and announced plans to review the weekend’s tactics and outcomes. The group indicated it would evaluate legal exposure and public messaging while considering future actions aimed at the party.
The weekend in Erfurt highlighted the competing priorities of maintaining public order, safeguarding the right to assemble and accommodating disruptive protest tactics. Municipal authorities and police vowed to present a fuller operational assessment in the coming days as investigations continue and organisers weigh next steps.
