Germany news: AfD conference wraps up in Erfurt

Key Points:

• The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) concluded a two-day party conference in Erfurt, with co-leader Alice Weidel strengthening her control and rallying the party to aim for government at state and federal levels, particularly targeting upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin.
• Despite internal scandals and scrutiny by domestic intelligence over extremist views, the AfD seeks to transition from a protest party to a governing force, currently leading polls with 29% support, ahead of the CDU/CSU bloc at 21%.
• Germany experienced a record surge in travel complaints in the first half of 2026, with over 29,400 cases mainly due to air travel disruptions caused by severe weather, strikes, and geopolitical conflicts, while rail complaints were linked to aging infrastructure.
• Large protests against the AfD conference in Erfurt saw around 31,000 participants, mostly peaceful but with some violence and arrests; police reported 16 protests and 60 arrests, including incidents involving journalists.
• Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed concerns about AfD's ties to Russia, seeking to limit the party's access to classified information should it enter government, citing national security risks.