Democracy Under Strain: German Right-Wing Youth Conference Met with Massive Protests
In a significant display of political tension in Germany, a conference for the youth wing of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party faced substantial opposition this Saturday. Between 25,000 and 30,000 protesters gathered in the central German city of Giessen to demonstrate against the “Generation Deutschland” event, prompting authorities to deploy 6,000 police officers—the largest police contingent in the history of the state of Hesse. The scale of both the protest and police response highlights the deepening political divisions within German society, where the rise of right-wing populism continues to spark intense public reactions.
The demonstration against the AfD youth convention wasn’t simply a peaceful expression of disagreement. Some protesters reportedly became violent, throwing stones at police officers and attempting to break through barriers toward the convention center. Law enforcement responded with pepper spray and water cannons to disperse groups that refused to comply with orders to vacate blockades. The confrontation resulted in minor injuries to 10-15 police officers, illustrating how political polarization in Germany has escalated beyond ideological disagreement to physical confrontation. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel condemned the protesters, characterizing their actions as “deeply undemocratic” and challenging “left-wingers” and “extremists” to examine their own behavior.
The controversy surrounding the AfD extends beyond this single incident, reflecting broader tensions in German politics. The party recently secured an impressive 20.8% of the vote in February elections, earning second place nationally. Despite this electoral success, mainstream German parties have consistently refused to form coalitions with the AfD, citing what they consider extremist views. This political isolation hasn’t diminished the party’s appeal among certain segments of the German population who feel unrepresented by traditional politics. The AfD has positioned itself as an anti-establishment force during a period when trust in conventional politicians has waned, initially gaining parliamentary representation in 2017 following increased migration to Germany in the mid-2010s.
Former U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell weighed in on the situation, expressing concern about what he described as “the intolerant and violent Left” gaining ground in Germany. Grenell suggested parallels between leftist movements in Germany and the United States, predicting they would “promote deadly violence while also losing public support—and elections.” He criticized German media for allegedly supporting leftist perspectives through public funding, while describing conservative media as “small and timid—but growing fast.” This international commentary underscores how German political divisions are being observed and interpreted within broader global contexts of left-right polarization.
The internal dynamics of the AfD youth organization itself reflect the party’s controversial position in German politics. The youth division elected 28-year-old Jean-Pascal Hohm as its chairman, who reportedly expressed anti-immigrant and nationalist views according to German intelligence. At the conference, Hohm stated, “We will fight resolutely for a genuine shift in migration policy that ensures Germany remains the homeland of Germans.” The formation of Generation Deutschland came after Germany’s federal intelligence agency classified the previous AfD youth chapter, Young Alternative, as an “extremist organization” in 2023, leading to its dissolution. This designation and subsequent reorganization illustrates the ongoing tension between the party’s desire for legitimacy and concerns about extremism among its ranks.
The situation in Giessen reveals profound questions about the boundaries of democratic expression in contemporary Germany. Boris Rhein, the Christian Democratic Union governor of Hesse, criticized both the violent protests and attempts to prevent the AfD gathering, stating that “the use of violence and attempts to prevent assemblies through marches can never be democratic means.” This perspective highlights a central dilemma: how democratic societies should respond to political movements that some consider threatening to democratic values themselves. As Germany continues to navigate these challenging political waters, the conflict between the right to assembly, freedom of expression, and concerns about extremism remains unresolved, with each side claiming to defend democratic principles while accusing the other of undermining them.
