Overview
- Delegates returned Andreas Lichert and Robert Lambrou as co-leaders with about 88.6% and 74.1% of the vote, with Lichert up roughly three points and Lambrou down about two versus the previous internal election.
- The party set its next milestone as the 15 March 2026 municipal elections, predicting more seats in local councils and invoking a promise to “beautify the cityscape” in a nod to the Merz debate.
- Lichert accused the CDU of opportunism and being “structurally cowardly,” declaring it neither coalition-capable nor -worthy for the AfD while leaders spoke of a path toward governing.
- Police secured the Neuhof venue in large numbers, and no counter-demonstrations were reported during the congress.
- The AfD described the Fulda gathering as its largest Hessian state congress to date with roughly 400 delegates, a figure attributed to the party.