Monday’s top story: Thousands protest as AfD re-elects Weidel and Chrupalla Tens of thousands demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Erfurt as the party’s delegates re-elected co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla for another two years. The AfD renewed the mandates of its leadership duo at the party’s federal conference in Erfurt, where Alice Weidel secured 81.3 per cent of delegates’ votes and Tino Chrupalla won around 70 per cent. Both stood unopposed. Outside the convention venue, large-scale protests drew significant crowds.
Police estimated attendance at more than 31,000, while organisers claimed around 50,000 people took part in rallies, marches and blockades opposing the party. Despite these demonstrations, the convention proceeded as planned under a major security operation involving several thousand officers. Police described the protests as largely peaceful, although 65 criminal offences and 13 administrative violations were recorded. Eleven officers suffered minor injuries, and authorities are investigating attacks on journalists, including reported assaults on media workers from the right wing outlets Apollo News and Junge Freiheit.
Within the conference hall, delegates avoided major policy disputes and instead focused on internal elections. Several senior party posts changed hands, including the appointment of three new deputy leaders and a new federal treasurer. Officials praised the security operation, while Erfurt’s mayor said the city had demonstrated “vibrant democracy” by enabling both the convention and the protests to take place. READ ALSO: Germany’s CDU slammed for ’empowering AfD’ with plan for deportation centres Cologne Pride draws record crowds amid concerns over rising anti-queer hostility Around
1.5 million people joined Cologne’s Christopher Street Day celebrations as participants used one of Europe’s largest Pride events to defend LGBTQ+ rights and highlight growing concerns about discrimination and hostility. More than 60,000 people marched through Cologne on Sunday as part of the city’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade, while organisers estimated total attendance at around 1.5 million. This year’s event, one of the largest Pride gatherings in Europe, carried a distinctly political message: protecting hard-won rights and confronting what many participants see as increasing
hostility towards queer communities. Participants stressed the importance of visibility and solidarity, particularly as Pride events spread into smaller towns and rural areas. For many, the celebrations were not only a demonstration of equality and freedom, but also a powerful reminder of community, belonging and resilience in the face of growing challenges. READ ALSO: What’s on in Germany – Ten unmissable events in July 2026 England set up Norway quarter-final as World Cup drama intensifies England survived a thrilling battle with Mexico to reach the
World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Norway after their surprise victory over Brazil. Off the pitch, FIFA is also facing scrutiny over a controversial decision involving the United States. England booked their place in the last eight with a dramatic 3-2 victory over hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. Jude Bellingham put the team in front with two goals in less than two minutes before Harry Kane added a second-half penalty. Despite playing for more than half an hour with ten men after Jarell
Quansah’s red card, England held off a Mexican comeback to advance. The reward is a quarter-final against Norway. Erling Haaland scored twice in the final minutes to secure a stunning 2-1 win over five-time champions Brazil, sending Norway into their first World Cup quarter-final. READ ALSO: How to watch the knock-out stages of the World Cup on German TV Meanwhile, controversy has erupted ahead of the United States’ Round of 16 clash with Belgium. FIFA dramatically lifted a suspension imposed on US striker Folarin Balogun
following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reports suggesting President Donald Trump personally lobbied FIFA have prompted accusations of political interference, with Belgian officials expressing astonishment and demanding answers from football’s governing body. Berlin population tops 3.7 million for the first time Berlin ended 2025 with a record population of 3,700,577 residents, an increase of 15,312 compared with the previous year, according to figures from the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office. The growth was driven exclusively by migration. Nearly 20,000 more people moved to the German
capital than left, while the city recorded 4,345 more deaths than births. It was the fourth consecutive year in which Berlin’s natural population balance was negative, meaning the population would have declined without new arrivals. Treptow-Köpenick experienced the strongest growth, gaining 4,879 residents, while Reinickendorf saw the largest decline, losing 3,075 inhabitants. Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Mitte were among the few districts where population growth was supported primarily by births. The number of German citizens living in Berlin increased for the first time in eight years, rising
to 2.87 million. Foreign nationals now make up around 23 per cent of the population, with 833,213 residents from 194 countries. Turkish citizens remain the largest foreign group, followed by Ukrainians, while the Indian community recorded the fastest growth, increasing by 18 per cent to 43,399 people. In contrast, neighbouring Brandenburg’s population fell by 4,858 people to 2.55 million, highlighting a diverging demographic trend between the capital and its surrounding state. READ ALSO: Record number of departures from Berlin reveals a city in flux New
mayor elected after election fraud forces re-run in Bavarian town Voters in the Bavarian municipality of Wülfershausen an der Saale have chosen a new mayor following an election fraud scandal that led to the cancellation of the original result. Ruth Markert, a 52-year-old banking management graduate representing the Independent Voters’ Association of Wülfershausen/Eichenhausen, won the special election with 87 per cent of the vote. According to preliminary results, turnout reached 69.5 per cent among the town’s roughly 1,300 eligible voters. The re-run was necessary after
the previous mayor, a former CSU politician, admitted tampering with election documents during the municipal elections held in March. He subsequently resigned from office. The allegations extend beyond the mayoral contest. Authorities believe the former mayor may also have altered ballots in both district council and municipal council elections. As a result, by-elections were held alongside the mayoral vote, with the district council election repeated by postal ballot only. The 69-year-old former mayor is due to appear before the district court in Bad Neustadt an
der Saale on November 3 on charges of election fraud. Prosecutors say a conviction could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine. The defendant has declined to comment publicly on the allegations and remains presumed innocent while proceedings continue. With reporting by DPA.
Erfurt, AfD, Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, protests, election, journalists, Apollo News, Junge Freiheit, Germany news roundup, Cologne Pride, Christopher Street Day, Berlin population, Wülfershausen election fraud