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The far-right, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as co-leaders on Saturday, with the party using its national conference to underline its ambitions ahead of crucial regional elections this year.
Delegates at the convention in Erfurt confirmed Weidel and Chrupalla as party leaders for another two years, maintaining the AfD's dual leadership structure after overwhelmingly rejecting the option of a single chair.
Weidel secured 81.3% of the vote, a slight increase on her result at the party's 2024 congress, while Chrupalla received 70%, down from nearly 83% two years earlier. Neither faced a challenger.
Their re-election reflected a display of unity at a time when the AfD, which is increasingly seeking to present itself as a mainstream governing force, is topping opinion polls and hoping to come to power after state elections in eastern Germany.
"We want to govern," Chrupalla told the conference in his candidacy speech. "We have grown into a people's party. We have proven that we can do opposition work. And we will govern, first in one state, then at the federal level."
Addressing lead candidates for elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the city-state of Berlin, he added: "You are our hope this year." Of the coming votes, he said: "We will win."
Chrupalla dismissed reports of rivalries at the populist party's helm, particularly between himself and Weidel. "Our party is more united than ever before," he said.
Weidel described 2026 as a "super election year" for the AfD and sharply criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The loudest applause in the hall came when Weidel declared: "We will deport people rigorously."
She also challenged the party's political opponents and counter-demonstrators outside the conference. "You won't bring us down! Quite the opposite - we're getting stronger and bigger all the time!" she shouted, drawing loud cheers.
Weidel said the AfD now has 75,000 members, up sharply from around 50,000 in 2024.
Protests and police operation
Chrupalla mocked anti-AfD demonstrators who attempted to block access to the convention hall, saying delegates had arrived before dawn to avoid disruption.
"The early bird catches the worm. The Antifa rioters overslept their own disruption tactics," he said.
By Saturday afternoon, police estimated around 31,000 people had turned out to protest in Erfurt. Several thousand officers from across Germany were deployed for the operation.
Hundreds of AfD delegates were escorted to the conference centre by police in the early hours of the morning, allowing proceedings to begin on time despite road blockades and demonstrations.
A ban on protests on several access roads remained in force after the city successfully appealed a court ruling that had struck it down.
The AfD became Germany's largest opposition party after achieving the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II in last year's federal election.
The party has since capitalized on low approval ratings for Merz's coalition government, which critics say has struggled to project unity and tackle Germany's economic problems swiftly.
However, the AfD remains highly controversial, with all mainstream parties maintaining a so-called political "firewall" against cooperation with the party and ruling out coalition agreements over what they describe as its anti-democratic and extremist positions, particularly on migration.
While many of its opponents continue to call for the AfD to be banned, the party is hoping to win an absolute majority in September's regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a result that could allow it to govern a state for the first time.
Protesters block the A71 highway near Gispersleben, during a demonstration against the national party convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD's national party convention is taking place on July 4 and 5 at the Erfurt Convention Center. (is associated with: «Germany's far-right AfD renews leadership duo ahead of key state votes») Michael Reichel/dpa
Left-wing protestors hold a large banner during a demonstration against the national party convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD's national party convention is taking place on July 4 and 5 at the Erfurt Convention Center. (is associated with: «Germany's far-right AfD renews leadership duo ahead of key state votes») Sven Kaeuler/dpa
Protesters block the B7 highway, during a demonstration against the national party convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD's national party convention is taking place on July 4 and 5 at the Erfurt Convention Center. (is associated with: «Germany's far-right AfD renews leadership duo ahead of key state votes») Sebastian Münster/dpa
An armored police vehicle and a water cannon on their way to the convention center, during a demonstration against the national party convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD's national party convention is taking place on July 4 and 5 at the Erfurt Convention Center. (is associated with: «Germany's far-right AfD renews leadership duo ahead of key state votes») Martin Schutt/dpa