German far-right party reelects its leaders after election gains while opponents protest

BERLIN (AP) — The far-right Alternative for Germany has reelected its leadership duo after the party made gains in the recent European election. Thousands of people protested against its convention in the western city of Essen Saturday and some demonstrators tried to block roads or clashed with police. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, took 15.9% of the vote to finish second in the European Parliament election on June 9, despite recent scandals and setbacks. That was lower than its support in surveys at the beginning of the year. Co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were elected unopposed to new two-year terms with strong support, a display of harmony by the party’s often-argumentative standards.