A convention of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was disrupted by thousands of protesters on Saturday, blocking roads and delaying the event as the country’s election campaign heated up. The two-day gathering in Riesa, eastern Saxony, a stronghold of the AfD, began over two hours late due to protester blockades.
The convention formally nominated co-leader Alice Weidel as the party’s candidate for chancellor, but her chances of winning are considered slim. Polls show that the AfD is second in the polls with around 20% support, behind the mainstream conservative opposition Union bloc led by Friedrich Merz, who is favored to become the next chancellor.
Weidel criticized the Union bloc, calling it a “party of fraudsters,” and promised to close Germany’s borders to undocumented migration and deport asylum-seekers. She also pledged to revive the Nord Stream gas pipeline and dismantle wind turbines, describing them as “windmills of shame.”
Meanwhile, Merz focused on his party’s offer of “fundamental change” after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government. He promised a reliable environment for investors and higher economic growth.
Scholz conceded that mistakes were made during his tenure but emphasized the need to look to the future. He reiterated his approach, maintaining that Germany should remain steadfast in its defense and diplomatic stance, particularly towards Ukraine.
The AfD convention comes as over 50 countries prepare for elections in 2024, a year expected to test even the most robust democracies.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/germany-election-far-right-afd-protests-4e67cfed44f6ecfd5801ab52cdae951c