VIDEO Germany: clashes between police and demonstrators in Cologne ahead of party convention

Demonstrators clashed with police in Cologne on Saturday as they marched towards the venue of the party convention populist Alternative for Germany (AFD). It is expected that more than 50,000 demonstrators hastened in the western German city to protest against populist policies AFD.

Some 4,000 police officers deployed in order to avoid clashes between supporters and opponents of the populist parties. The demonstrators gathered in front of the largest hotel in the city center where the conference is held, and between 50 and 60 they attempted to block the main street bikes.

Hannelore Kraft, Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the conference is held, and the leader of the Green Party Cem Ozdemir should be during the day turn to rally against the AFD. The conference came just days before the head of the AFD Frauke Petry announced that it will not lead the election campaign the party for the general elections to be held in September. Her dramatic decision put to the fore a long time present intra-party struggle, which are opposed Petry and hardline party members.Six hundred delegates who attend the conference will likely sign the election manifesto AFD. They will have to put aside months-long internal turmoil to agree about the team that will lead the election campaign, reports dpa.

• 22 Apr, 2017
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