The German far-right has started a pre-election congress against the backdrop of protests

The congress was planned to start at 10 in the morning (11 a.m. Kyiv time), but it was more than two hours late.

In front of the stadium, where party members gather, in the morning there are massive demonstrations of both supporters and opponents. Thousands of opponents have organized themselves into groups and are trying to get closer to the meeting place of the right-wing party from different sides and block the entrances of about 600 delegates.

A large contingent of police with dogs, water cannons and special armored vehicles is on the scene.

Media representatives complain that both demonstrators and, in some places, the police are preventing them from working.

The AfD, which is broadcasting live from the congress on its X social network account to fill the “air” due to the delay in the start of the meeting, launched a recording of the conversation of its leader Alice Weidel with the owner of the platform Elon Musk with German subtitles.

Read also: Scholz explained what worries him the most about the statements Maskand regarding Germany Alice Weidel is expected to be officially chosen as a chancellor candidate in the upcoming elections. She will be the first candidate from her party, founded in 2013.

This is the 16th congress of the AfD since the founding of the party 11 years ago.

The Social Democratic Party is holding its congress this weekend in Berlin, where it is expected that the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will be finally approved as a candidate for the position of chancellor.

According to recent polls, Alternative for Germany currently enjoys the support of around 21% of voters, making it the second most popular party in the country (after the conservative CDU/CSU bloc).

Read also: Three German parties presented pre-election programs – what kind of support for Ukraine As reported, extraordinary elections are scheduled in Germany for February 23.

First photo: MDR