HUThousands of protesters gathered in Erfurt, Germany, to demonstrate against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during its congress. The protests were organized by trade unions, civil organizations, and leftist parties, with estimates ranging between 31,000 and 50,000 participants. Police deployed pepper spray primarily to keep roads open for vehicles with special permits, though most demonstrations remained peaceful. Protesters blocked access to the venue where the two-day conference was held, aiming to disrupt the event. Despite these efforts, the AfD congress proceeded on time, with delegates arriving hours before the scheduled start. The party re-elected its co-leaders, Alice Weidelt and Tino Chrupeľ, ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Meanwhile, the congress was briefly interrupted by the unexpected playback of the Star Wars theme music, which was traced to a hidden Bluetooth speaker.
Tendenz-Einschätzung (Mitte): The article provides a balanced account of both the protests against the AfD and the proceedings of the AfD congress. It includes quotes from protest organizers and reports on the AfD's outcomes without overtly favoring either side. The framing remains neutral, focusing on factual descriptions of事件,
