Thousands of people protested against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s conference in Riesa, Saxony, on January 11, 2025. The event, which is part of the party’s campaign for the February 23 Bundestag election, drew around 12,000 protesters, according to organizers.
The protest was delayed and featured clashes with police, who used pepper spray to contain the crowd. Six police officers sustained light injuries during operations.
AfD leader Alice Weidel called for “large-scale” deportations if the party takes power, while her co-leader Tino Chrupalla accused protesters of “anti-democratic” behavior. The AfD has been classified as a “suspected” far-right extremist organization by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.
The party has gained popularity in eastern Germany, particularly in Saxony and neighboring Thuringia, where it took first place in the 2021 federal election with 24.6% of the vote. However, it failed to form government due to a lack of coalition partners.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-thousands-protest-afd-party-conference-in-saxony/a-71271891