Planned protests organized by an alliance of activists have begun ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) two-day conference, which begins on Saturday morning in the eastern city of Germany in Riesa in Saxony.
Three of Germany's main parties are holding rallies on Saturday to confirm their programs and candidates ahead of national elections on February 23, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition.
Organizers expect more than 10,000 people to attend demonstrations against the AfD. Participants from around 70 cities are expected to arrive in more than 100 buses, they said.
A “small group” was said to be blocking the eastbound lane on a nearby highway.
Demonstrators also planned to block the entrances and exits to the conference center where the AfD rally will be held.
While the situation remained calm in the morning, authorities expect the presence of violent protesters and have established a control zone in the town, which is located about 130 kilometers south of Berlin.
Demonstrators were being directed to the designated assembly points, police said.
Police work will be coordinated with a helicopter over the city, it was reported. The police are also using drones and are supported by forces from several federal states.
The AfD plans to adopt its election manifesto in Riesa and the leader of the party to officially name Alice Weidel as Chancellor candidate.
Saxony is one of the AfD's strongholds: in the last election, it won 24.6% of the vote there, leaving the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany's traditional conservative party, far behind with 17.2%.
Police officers stopped a protest march against the conference of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party at Arena WT Energiesysteme in Riesa. Daniel Wagner/dpa
Demonstrators protest against the AfD (Alternative for Germany) national party conference, which is to adopt its election manifesto and name co-chair Alice Weidel as chancellor candidate. Jan Woitas/dpa
Police broke up a sit-in at a demonstration against the AfD (Alternative Alternative for Germany) national party conference, which aims to adopt its election manifesto and appoint Alice Weidel as its co-chair. as chancellor candidate. Jan Woitas/dpa
Police officers stopped a protest march against the conference of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party at Arena WT Energiesysteme in Riesa. Daniel Wagner/dpa
