Far-right Alternative for Germany party conference draws to a close

The party conference of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) concluded in the eastern city of Erfurt on Sunday with the party discussing internal business and the city authorities counting the cost of mass anti-AfD protests.

In the conference hall, party officials presented videos on upcoming state elections in the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the city-state of Berlin.

The party also discussed internal positions and changes to its standing orders, with respect to taking on new members and party dues.

The most important points, including electing the executive, were dealt with on Saturday, amid mass anti-AfD demonstrations in Erfurt.

Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were confirmed as co-leaders, while some positions in the 14-member executive saw the election of new replacements.

A large police presence used force to prevent protesters breaking through police lines guarding the conference centre.

The Wiedersetzen (Resistance) organization described its protests on Saturday as a success, saying it was the largest blockade it had yet mounted against the party. It put the numbers at 50,000, while police put the figure at 31,000.

Police bussed AfD delegates to the conference centre early in the morning to avoid the protests, and the conference started on time, with Chrupalla mocking the late-sleeping protesters of the so-called "Antifa" (anti-fascist) movement.

Police drew in support from other states as well as from the federal police and had water cannon at the ready. They made incidental use of pepper-spray and force to push back attempts to break through their lines. Batons were used when activists blocked a motorway.

A number of attacks on journalists were reported, which police said they would investigate.

The second day was largely given over to internal party procedure. Controversy was avoided ahead of key elections in September.

The AfD has its eye on securing an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt, where it is polling around 41%. Wasted votes could push that to over 50% of the seats in the state parliament and give the party control at state level for the first time.

Speaking to the party's own television broadcaster AfD-TV, Weidel said on Saturday evening: "That would lead at a stroke to the normalization of our party."

The established parties have thus far refused to cooperate with the AfD at state level, although the party does have officials at local level.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius gave voice to concerns about the party becoming part of government, referring to the AfD's position on Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with the Sunday edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper.

"Their closeness to Putin cannot be overlooked. The suspicion that there is money from Russia has also been raised," Pistorius said. He added that sensitive information should not be allowed to pass into the wrong hands.