AfD Reelects Weidel and Chrupalla With 81% and 70% as 31,000 Protest in Erfurt
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 4
AfD Reelects Weidel and Chrupalla With 81% and 70% as 31,000 Protest in Erfurt
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 4
Summary
AfD delegates in Erfurt overwhelmingly renewed the mandates of co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who ran unopposed after four years at the top of Germany’s far-right party.
81% backed Weidel and 70% backed Chrupalla in a vote the party used to project unity, even as tens of thousands gathered outside and some protesters clashed with police.
31,000 people joined Saturday’s rallies, which organizers hoped would block the convention; police said the event still began on time and the demonstrations were largely peaceful.
20.8% in Germany’s February 2025 national election made AfD the biggest opposition party, and polls now put it first nationally despite a mainstream-party “firewall” and an unresolved extremism case.
40% is the party’s target in Saxony-Anhalt’s Sept. 6 state election, where a breakthrough could move AfD closer to its first state governor.
Could banning Germany's surging far-right party backfire and create a more powerful underground movement?
With the pro-Russia AfD leading polls, is Germany's support for Ukraine and European security at risk?
What does the AfD's 'remigration' plan mean for millions of immigrants and even citizens living in Germany?
Alternative for Germany Hits 75,000 Members: Leadership, Momentum, and the Battle for State Control in 2026
Overview
On July 4, 2026, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) held its party convention in Erfurt, where delegates reaffirmed Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as co-leaders, signaling a continuation of the party’s current direction. This leadership vote took place during a period of notable growth for the AfD, with membership surging to 75,000, up from 50,000 in 2024. The rise in membership provided strong support for the re-election of the co-leaders, highlighting both the party’s expanding base and its efforts to maintain stability and unity amid internal and external challenges.