Berlin, Jun 29 (EFE).- Police and anti-fascist protesters on Saturday clashed in the western German city of Essen, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress was being held.
Several arrests were made during the demonstration that was attended by thousands of people, said police, who used pepper spray and batons to push protesters back who had tried to break through a security cordon.
“There were several violent acts (…). Some demonstrators were wearing masks and attacked police officers. Several arrests have already been made,” the Essen Police said on X.
Police warned that attempts to break through the barriers will be systematically prevented and that “criminal offenses will be systematically prosecuted”.
Some 4,000 officers were deployed, with drones and at least three water cannons in place to ensure the safety of the approximately 600 AfD delegates.
The congress attendees had to negotiate police barriers and sit-ins by thousands of demonstrators carrying banners with slogans such as “human rights instead of ultras” and cries against the AfD’s “Nazi propaganda.”
Authorities expect about 100,000 demonstrators throughout the day in Essen, including about 1,000 left-wing extremists.
During the two-day congress, the 600 delegates intend to re-elect co-leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, and to create the post of a general secretary from 2025.
In addition, two resolutions will be seen on the Russian war in Ukraine. The AfD has condemned Western sanctions against Russia and believes the West’s response has contributed to an “escalation” in the war.
The AfD has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent months, driven by public discontent over the war in Ukraine and the spiraling cost of living.
In the European Parliament elections this month, AfD won the second most votes, with 15.8 %.
Only the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), which came out on top with 30 % of the vote, were ahead of the far-right group.
Before the European elections, the AfD leadership was embroiled in successive scandals involving its top candidate, Maximilian Krah, who left the party’s top ranks after saying that not all members of the Nazi SS organization were criminals.
There is also an ongoing investigation against Petr Bystron, who was number two on the AfD list for the European Parliament and has been elected MEP, for alleged offenses of bribery and money laundering, accusations that he rejects.
This week security forces in Germany and the Czech Republic carried out new searches in several properties related to the MEP as part of the investigation against him for allegedly taking bribes from Russia. EFE
cae/ks
