As demonstrators gathered in Erfurt to protest the far-right party, the AfD re-elected its co-leaders and focused on strategy ahead of upcoming regional elections.

The convention's timing and location also drew criticism over Nazi-era historical references, which the AfD rejected.

The far-right co-leader Alice Weidel took aim at the protesters outside, saying: "You won't bring us down. On the contrary, we're getting stronger and bigger all the time."