Overview
- Caroline Lichtenheld was elected state chair and Eric Engelhardt deputy at the Ilmenau founding meeting, returning the leadership duo from the dissolved Junge Alternative.
- Thuringian leader Björn Höcke addressed attendees, casting the state branch as central to the party and urging the youth to fight for power.
- Police reported about 180 people protested outside Hotel Tanne and said the demonstration remained peaceful without disrupting the event.
- AfD figures said placing the youth group within the party is intended to better shield it from legal moves after the JA was dissolved following its extremist classification.
- Roughly 40 eligible members took part in the vote, with other state branches forming this weekend and security officials noting continuities with the former JA.