Attempt to Prevent National Convention of AfD Fails

Numerous road blockades, sit-ins and other attempts to disrupt the arrival of several hundred delegates of the rightwing Alternative for Germany party for its national convention in Erfurt this weekend failed. The convention started on schedule at 10 a.m. with a sufficient number of delegates to have a quorum for voting. Police forces nevertheless are prepared to face disruptions and violence by radicals, as more and more protesters are coming into the city. It was projected that the initial 15,000 protestors are expected to increase up to 50,000. About 200 tour buses were reportedly bringing protesters from all over Germany.