Party rift divides German nationalists

COLOGNE, Germany — Divisions among German nationalists broke out Saturday as delegates from the far-right Alternative for Germany party rejected an appeal by one of their leaders to seek a pragmatic political path instead of turning into a “fundamental opposition” party.

While tensions brewed inside the Alternative for Germany party convention in the western German city of Cologne, outside the hotel hundreds of left-wing demonstrators tried to block about 600 party members from entering. The delegates needed police protection to get into the convention, and protesters injured one police officer Saturday morning while trying to block the hotel entrance.

Authorities had 4,000 police officers on the ground to prevent a violent escalation of anti-populist rallies by an expected 50,000 left-wing protesters.

Speaking before Alternative for Germany members, nationalist politician Frauke Petry said the party needed to set the course for a “spiritual-moral change” in Germany and the rest of Europe. But a majority of the delegates rejected a vote on the party’s future path that she had suggested.

In comparison, Joerg Meuthen, a more far-right party leader who is one of Petry’s rivals, was cheered strongly when he lashed out at German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her government’s migration policy.

The convention takes place days after Petry said she won’t be her party’s top candidate in Germany’s Sept. 24 general election, a move seen by many as a consequence of party leaders’ infighting about the future direction of the party.

AP/MARTIN MEISSNER People protest Saturday in Cologne outside the Alternative for Germany’s far-right nationalist party convention.