Due to massive protests, the founding meeting of the new AfD youth organization began late on Saturday in Giessen, Germany. The majority of the 1,000 registered members came together late in the morning for the two-day event. The old youth organization – the Junge Alternative – dissolved in the spring after the party separated from it. Massive resistance to the meeting had formed in Giessen.
The protest alliance “Resist” tried to block access to the event with road blockades. Accordingly, more than 15,000 activists against right-wing extremism were on the streets in the morning. According to the police, there were occasional violent clashes. In some cases, stones and bottles were thrown at officers. According to emergency calls, several vehicles and lanterns were damaged at one point. The police used water cannons and pepper spray at two blockades on a federal highway.
The originally planned start of the event at 10 a.m. could not be kept due to the road blockades. Instead, it started shortly after 12 p.m.
Stronger affiliation with party
The new AfD youth organization should be organizationally closer to the party than the Junge Alternative was until it was dissolved. “We hope that the entire youth organization will be put on a stable footing and will work hand in hand with the parent party, i.e. with us,” said party leader Alice Weidel recently. She posted a message of support on the online service X on Saturday morning: “Strong together, Gießen, we are coming.”
The new youth organization is to be called “Generation Germany”. Brandenburg state parliament member Jean-Pascal Hohm is the designated chairman. He is considered to be on the right-wing fringe of the AfD and belongs to the Brandenburg regional association, which is classified as proven right-wing extremist.