AfD stays the course amid Petry-Pretzell “realpolitic” split

Germany's anti-immigrant AfD party has picked nationalist Alexander Gauland (left) and economist Alice Weidel as its top candidates for Germany's federal election. Notably missing is Frauke Petry.
By Carolyn Yeager
FAR FEWER DEMONSTRATORS AGAINST THE AFD PARTY CONGRESS' 2-day meeting in Cologne actually showed up than the 50,000 claimed to be expected. Only 8 to 10,000 filled the streets, which were easily controlled by the 4,000 well-prepared police on hand, even though two police officers were injured and a police car was set ablaze before things calmed down. Hateful comments from Church leaders brought push back from AfD co-chairman Frauke Petry in her speech on Saturday against their "ugly, deprecating and polarizing remarks." (See more on that below)











