The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opened its national conference Saturday with a strong focus on upcoming elections, pressing ahead despite mass protests, a major police presence and legal challenges surrounding the event.
Riding momentum ahead of regional elections in several German states later this year, the party began its convention in the eastern city of Erfurt with an upbeat and confident message.
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla expressed optimism about the party's prospects, telling delegates, "Perhaps we will soon be able to govern on our own." Addressing the party's lead candidates in Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, he added, "You are our hope this year," before declaring, "We will win."
Chrupalla also rejected reports of divisions within the party leadership, particularly speculation about tensions between himself and co-chair Alice Weidel.
"Our party is more united than ever before," he said.
