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German police and protesters clash as far-right AfD elects leader German police and protesters clash as far-right AfD elects leader
(about 3 hours later)
A rightwing nationalist has been elected as co-leader of the anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland at a convention overshadowed by protests. The nationalist wing of the German anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland was strengthened and moderate forces sidelined at a convention marked by protests.
Several people were reportedly hurt in clashes between protesters and police in the German city of Hanover on Saturday as the AfD congress chose Alexander Gauland to return to the post he had held until 2015. Gauland once defended an AfD member who said history should be rewritten to focus on German victims of the second world war. Several people were reportedly hurt in clashes between protesters and police in the city of Hanover on Saturday as the AfD congress chose Alexander Gauland to return to the co-leader post he had held until 2015. Gauland opposes the expulsion of Björn Höcke, an AfD member who said history should be rewritten to focus on German victims of the second world war.
Gauland replaces Frauke Petry, who quit to become an independent member of parliament.
Her sudden departure two days after the AfD became the first far-right party to win seats in the Bundestag since the 1950s exposed rifts over whether the party should ditch rhetoric such as statements saying Islam was not compatible with the German constitution.
Outside the conference centre, thousands of anti-AfD protesters marched carrying placards reading “Hanover against Nazis” and “Stand up to racism”.Outside the conference centre, thousands of anti-AfD protesters marched carrying placards reading “Hanover against Nazis” and “Stand up to racism”.
Earlier, riot police fired water cannon at dozens of people who blocked a road leading to the event, underlining the divisive impact the party has had since it entered the Bundestag for the first time following elections in September.Earlier, riot police fired water cannon at dozens of people who blocked a road leading to the event, underlining the divisive impact the party has had since it entered the Bundestag for the first time following elections in September.
Ten protesters were temporarily detained; several police officers and one protester were injured.Ten protesters were temporarily detained; several police officers and one protester were injured.
The party’s incumbent leader, Jörg Meuthen – seen as a relative moderate in the movement – won enough votes to keep his post. The party’s incumbent leader, Jörg Meuthen – a representative of the economically liberal wing of the movement who nonetheless also opposes Höcke’s expulsion from the party – won enough votes to keep his post.
But in a vote that dragged into the evening, he was joined as co-leader by Gauland, who ran for the post at the last minute after another candidate seen as a moderate, Georg Pazderski, failed to win enough votes.But in a vote that dragged into the evening, he was joined as co-leader by Gauland, who ran for the post at the last minute after another candidate seen as a moderate, Georg Pazderski, failed to win enough votes.
The sidelining of Pazderski, a former ally of Petry, weakens the influence of those AfD members who are keen to manoeuvre the rightwing party into a position where it could enter a coalition government.
Before the leadership vote, Meuthen praised the party, which is often beset by internal strife, for showing unity after two senior members quit in September in protest against what they saw as an unstoppable populist streak.Before the leadership vote, Meuthen praised the party, which is often beset by internal strife, for showing unity after two senior members quit in September in protest against what they saw as an unstoppable populist streak.
“There are people in this country who don’t only say, ‘We can do this,’ but who actually manage to do something,” Meuthen told delegates, putting a new twist on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das” (We can do it) message to those who doubted Germany can deal with a record influx of migrants in 2015. Founded in 2013 as a vehicle to oppose eurozone bailouts, the AfD was polling at around 3% nationally two years ago on the eve of the refugee crisis. “There are people in this country who don’t only say, ‘We can do this,’ but who actually manage to do something,” Meuthen told delegates, putting a new twist on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das” (We can do it) message to those who doubted Germany could deal with a record influx of migrants in 2015. Founded in 2013 as a vehicle to oppose eurozone bailouts, the AfD was polling at around 3% nationally two years ago on the eve of the refugee crisis.
It has since morphed into an anti-immigrant party that now has seats in 14 of Germany’s 16 regional parliaments.It has since morphed into an anti-immigrant party that now has seats in 14 of Germany’s 16 regional parliaments.
Polls suggest it will win seats in next year’s regional elections in the southern state of Bavaria and the western region of Hesse, which would give it a foothold in all of Germany’s state parliaments.Polls suggest it will win seats in next year’s regional elections in the southern state of Bavaria and the western region of Hesse, which would give it a foothold in all of Germany’s state parliaments.
Gauland replaces Frauke Petry, who quit to become an independent member of parliament.
Her sudden departure two days after the AfD became the first far-right party to win seats in the Bundestag since the 1950s exposed rifts over whether the party should ditch rhetoric such as statements saying Islam was not compatible with the German constitution.