Delaying the protest action is the start of Germany’s far-right AfD rally in Saxony

Demonstrations organized on Saturday by the organization of activists opposed to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) delayed the start of the conference of this party in the eastern German state of Saxony.

The protests come as Germany’s three main political parties hold rallies on the same day to finalize their campaign platforms and candidate selection ahead of the February 23 general election.

The early vote was called following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition in November.

Several protesters blocked access roads to the site and by 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) a small portion of the estimated 600 delegates had reportedly arrived at the site.

Organizers of the protest say they expect more than 10,000 people to take part in the anti-AfD protests.

The chairman of the AfD party, Alice Weidel, who will be appointed to represent the party in the position of chancellor at the two-day conference, has also been suspended, according to AfD sources.

The authorities were on the lookout for violent protests, large numbers of police, water cannons and a helicopter monitoring the situation.

The police said that there were already attempts to break the barriers when the protesters arrived in the morning.

According to a dpa reporter, tear gas was used to disperse the protesters who were blocking police vehicles. The protesters had slashed the tires of many police vehicles. Pyrotechnics were also thrown at police in another protest march.