Alternative for Germany Party Elects New Leaders in Erfurt

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the national convention of Germany's Alternative for Germany party in Erfurt on Saturday, with some clashing with police in riot gear. The party is meeting to elect leaders, a process German parties conduct every two years.

The party seeks to demonstrate unity by extending the terms of co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have led the party together for four years. Demonstrations outside the convention reflect divisions over the party's role as the largest opposition party nationally.

The weekend gathering coincides with the 100-year anniversary of a Nazi Party meeting held nearby that consolidated Adolf Hitler's power. Historians and political opponents have described the timing as carrying symbolic weight, an accusation the party rejects.

" The party is drawing support from dissatisfaction with the current government's efforts to reform the economy. It has expanded its focus beyond its original emphasis on migration policy, which contributed to its growth in the mid-2010s. The party aims to win 40 percent or more of the vote in a Sept.

6 state election in Saxony-Anhalt. A strong result could position the party for an absolute majority or allow it to attract defectors from other parties, potentially leading to its first state governor.