The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party held its biennial conference in Erfurt over the weekend, focusing on upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin. The event drew approximately 20,000 protesters who demonstrated against the party's presence. During the conference, co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were re-elected, with Chrupalla defending the party's right to hold the gathering against those he labeled "democracy-haters." The AfD, which has shifted from its Euroskeptic roots to a hard-line stance on immigration, seeks significant gains in the upcoming fall elections. Recent polling suggests the party could achieve a 41.4 percent vote share in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially challenging the dominance of mainstream parties like the CDU/CSU. Weidel asserted the party is prepared to take responsibility for governing Germany following the next general election.