Boos and disruptions during the AfD's visit to Bremen on German Unity Day

Boos, disruptive actions and demonstrative gestures: The visit of high-ranking AfD politicians to the Day of German Unity in Bremen caused a commotion.

Party leader Tino Chrupalla and the Thuringian AfD member of the Bundestag Stephan Brandner were greeted with boos and whistles by the waiting crowd after the official ceremony on Saturday. “The whole of Bremen hates the AfD,” some spectators shouted, the politicians reacted with amusement and waved.

A subsequent round of discussions with Brandner and Bremen AfD member of the Bundestag Sergej Minich in the tent of the German Bundestag was disrupted, as the AfD parliamentary group reported on Platform X. “There were like 50 crazy people who completely freaked out,” said Brandner. Video recordings show how spectators accused the AfD politicians of “Nazi propaganda” and chanted “Kick off”. The parliamentary group speaks of a “scandal” and makes it clear in the post: “We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by left-wing enemies of democracy!”

But the behavior of some AfD politicians at the ceremony was also noticeable: While Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave his speech, some demonstratively scrolled on their smartphones, sometimes laughed out loud and remained seated with their arms crossed when everyone else applauded Steinmeier's speech. The Federal President had warned of a further rise in extremist forces in Germany.