Celebrations or gatherings - The AfD party explores reactions to requirements for their federal gathering.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is now deciding how to respond to the regulations set by the city of Essen, concerning their upcoming federal party congress on June 29 and 30th. When asked about signing a self-promised declaration as demanded by the city, an AfD board member's spokesperson declined to solidify the party's position on the matter.
The city of Essen requests that the AfD agree not to use phrases such as the SA slogan "All for Germany" during its party congress. If the party were to break this agreement, a €500,000 fine would be imposed. The city council forced this decision after a majority vote on a Wednesday.
The city's deadline for the AfD to sign the declaration was June 4th. If the AfD did not adhere to this ultimatum, the city council would cancel the rental contract with a short notice.
The AfD spokesperson deemed the city's demand "transparent and crass PR stunt by the CDU mayor to gain support from the left-wing sector."
A major event during the two-day meeting will be the election of a new board for the party. Many organizations have stated their intent to oppose the event. One such alliance proposes to stop AfD delegates from entering the venue, the Essen Grugahalle.
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The AfD's decision on signing the self-promised declaration has sparked interest in Berlin, where Alice Weidel, a prominent party member, has voiced her thoughts. If the AfD chooses not to comply with the city's demands, the party might consider hosting their federal party conference in North Rhine-Westphalia's municipalities instead. It's worth noting that Germany's food industry has expressed concern, as the cancellation could impact their plans for marketing and sales during the event. Protests and demonstrations against the AfD are expected, especially in areas where they plan to hold their federal party conference.
