Alternative for Germany Party Reelects Leaders at National Convention

Delegates at the national convention of the Alternative for Germany party on Saturday reelected its leaders with large majorities while tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the meeting in Erfurt. The party voted to extend the terms of Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have served as co-leaders for four years and ran unopposed.

Weidel received 81 percent of the vote and Chrupalla received 70 percent.

The event proceeded on schedule despite the demonstrations. Party officials described the gathering as an exercise of their right to hold party conventions. Chrupalla said the protesters represented the last resort of political rivals and rejected descriptions of the demonstrations as peaceful blockades.

Police reported that about 31,000 people attended the protest rallies, which were largely peaceful. Support has since risen to first place among the nation's political parties. Germany's domestic intelligence agency classified the party as a proven right-wing extremist group last year, but a Cologne court suspended the designation in February while the party's lawsuit proceeds.

The party rejects the extremism label and argues the agency is being used as a political instrument by mainstream parties.

The party hopes to win 40 percent or more of the vote in a Sept. 6 state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Chrupalla said the party could win outright or attract defectors from other parties. The party has called for lifting sanctions against Russia and opposes weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

It has supported the general approach of U.S. President Donald Trump while criticizing the war in Iran launched by the Trump administration and Israel.