The opening speeches mocked and lambasted the protesters as anti-democratic. They revelled in the AfD‘s rise that could see the party taking power in regional elections this year for the first time, while painting their mainstream rivals as tired, out of touch and leading Germany into decline.
“For this remains our last chance to save our country,” Weidel said. “More and more people in this country want to support us in the fight against Germany’s decline, in the fight for our fatherland and for our identity.”
Underscoring the party’s hard line on immigration, a song called “Send them back” played on the AfD‘s social media stream minutes before the convention opened. Inside the convention centre, vintage-style cards were on sale with slogans such as “YOU will be deported”.
Bjoern Hoecke, seen as one of the party’s most radical and controversial leaders, offered a mix of nostalgia and invective, even pointing to the state of Germany’s motorway toilets as an example of national malaise.
“A great Germany is a Germany where one need not fear taking a walk through the city park in the evening. A great Germany is a country where apartment keys can be left hanging on the outside of the door,” he said.
