Party conference in Essen - Weidel: AfD wants to end the "hippie craze" in Germany
With a barrage of insults, AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel opened the party congress of her party, which was accompanied by massive protest actions in Essen. Germany has become "a pony farm," Weidel told more than 550 delegates on Saturday in her welcoming speech. She addressed the traffic light government and said, "Dear government, please step down and clear the way for new elections!"
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution observes the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist case - an assessment that was confirmed by the Upper Administrative Court in Münster in May. Applause from her party friends followed as Weidel exclaimed, "The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has become an enemy of the Constitution itself and must be abolished in this form."
The newly enacted Citizenship Law, which shortens naturalization procedures, would put the AfD back in the black in case of government participation, Weidel stated. The Union has also announced this. The AfD chairwoman said, "Germany is dismantling itself if we don't intervene and put an end to this hippie-like madness."
Weidel used a soccer metaphor in her speech and spoke of a "trainer team" in the party leadership. Perhaps she wanted to take the wind out of her colleagues' sails who suspect she wants to push Co-Chairman Tino Chrupalla aside and position herself as the lead candidate for the federal election.
Some delegates had difficulties reaching the Grugahalle due to protests and blockades. Left-wing groups had announced they would try to block the delegates' way to the party congress venue. In fact, some of them had trouble getting there on time due to the massive protests and blockades. The police emphasized that they would not tolerate a blockade of the party congress and would ensure an unobstructed course for the AfD event. She reported on Saturday that there were partly violent actions from counter-demonstrators and several arrests.
Up to 100,000 people from all over Germany and abroad are expected to attend demonstrations and events throughout the weekend, including around 1,000 left-wing extremists. The police have several thousand officers on duty.
Weidel accused the traffic light coalition of escalation rhetoric regarding the war in Ukraine. "These gentlemen traffic light ministers should finally take responsibility and go to the front themselves, but keep their hands off our sons and fathers," she said, earning applause. Weidel also stated that it was in the interests of Germany and Europe that Ukraine not belong to the European Union and be part of Europe.
The AfD will be electing a new board during their two-day party congress on Saturday and Sunday. Both Weidel and Chrupalla have announced they will run again. Weidel said the AfD wants "more direct democracy" and popular votes in Germany.
The AfD gained 15.9% of the votes in the European election on June 9, but fell short of their own expectations. Reports on the Potsdam meeting of radical right-wingers on the topic of "remigration," new competition from the Left Party (BSW), and allegations against their lead candidate, Maximilian Krah, who was in the headlines for weeks due to suspected Russia and China connections, may have contributed to this.
On the first day, the delegates also discussed the future of their representatives in Brussels, after the right ID-Faction there announced the termination of cooperation with the AfD. Weidel spoke out against the designated new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) and against the right-wing Italian government leader Giorgia Meloni in her speech.
- Amidst the protests and blockades, some AfD delegates faced challenges in reaching the Grugahalle for the Federal Party Conference.
- Alice Weidel, the AfD chairwoman, criticized the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, labeling it an enemy of the Constitution itself.
- The traffic light government was a target of Weidel's barrage of insults during her welcoming speech at the party congress.
- Tino Chrupalla, co-chairman of the AfD, might have felt the wind taken out of his sails with Weidel's soccer metaphor in her speech.
- The Left-wing groups announced they would try to block the delegates' way to the party congress venue, causing disruptions and delays.
- The AfD, with Weidel at the helm, accused the traffic light coalition of escalation rhetoric regarding the war in Ukraine.
- Up to 100,000 people are expected to attend demonstrations and events throughout the weekend, with several thousand officers on duty from the police to maintain order.
- During the party congress, the AfD will elect a new board, an opportunity for Weidel and Chrupalla to solidify their positions within the party.
