United News of Bangladesh

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday held its national convention in the eastern city of Erfurt to elect its leadership, while thousands of protesters gathered outside and some clashed with riot police. The convention, held every two years, is expected to extend the leadership terms of co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have jointly led the party for the past four years. Large demonstrations outside the venue underscored the deep political divisions surrounding the AfD, which has emerged as Germany's largest opposition party at the national level. The gathering has also drawn criticism for coinciding with the 100th anniversary of a Nazi Party meeting held nearby that helped consolidate Adolf Hitler's leadership of the fascist movement. Historians and political opponents have argued that the timing carries symbolic significance, an allegation rejected by the AfD. Weidel recently described 2026 as a "year of destiny" for the party. Germany's mainstream political parties have maintained their long-standing refusal to cooperate with the AfD, a policy commonly referred to as the "firewall." Despite its political isolation, the AfD has continued to gain support by capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of economic challenges, while broadening its appeal beyond its traditional anti-immigration platform. The party is aiming for a strong performance in the Sept. 6 state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where it hopes to secure more than 40% of the vote. Such a result could put it within reach of an outright majority or strengthen its position to attract lawmakers from other parties, potentially paving the way for the AfD's first state governor.