The Congress of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Essen this weekend was completely cut off from the events outside the conference hall.
Several tens of thousands of people protested against the AfD outside. Nothing could be seen or heard in the hall. The police blocked off the fairgrounds, and around 600 AfD delegates were isolated in a world of their own, in a kind of bubble.
Whoever managed to get into the bubble, immediately encountered appropriate props and goods with AfD inscriptions: t-shirts, glasses, mugs, leaflets, publications.
As with other parties, it is common for the AfD to present friendly or related organizations and companies on the sidelines of party congresses.
In a hall in Essen, the AfD's youth organization called Young Alternative sells t-shirts with the inscription "Döp Dödödöp" - enough to remind you of the song "L'amour toujours" by Djidji Dagostin.
But also a recent video from the island of Zilt when, to the rhythm of that song, a group of young people sang "Germany to the Germans, foreigners out". It became a big topic in the media, leading politicians condemned such slogans.
When we asked the people standing at the AfD stand about it, they laconically answered that everything that happened at Zilt was exaggerated.
One of the stands featured the right-wing magazine "Krautzone". They had tickets for sale with the figures of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
No discussion, no discussion
The AfD in Essen remains in its bubble even when it comes to internal disputes, blows and failures. These include the ill-fated campaign for the European elections in which the leading candidate, Maximilian Krach, was ultimately unable to run due to a series of scandals he caused.
AfD won about 16 percent of the vote, which is a good result, although they had hoped for better. They were eventually kicked out of the identitarian parliamentary group in the European Parliament - and they are too right-wing for them.
On the big stage of the party congress in Essen, there were almost no open discussions about it. "It wouldn't be life if it didn't sometimes go differently than desired," party leader Alice Weidel succinctly defined the situation.
"There were struggles, blows, but still we achieved a great result," she said.
The names of the replaced candidates Maximilian Krah and Petr Bistron, who were not present at the Congress, were not mentioned by Alice Weidel all weekend, just like her colleague with whom she leads the party, Tino Krupala.
He only said that "some, with their thoughtless and unprofessional behavior (...), provided an unnecessary reason for the attack." And added: "We must choose our candidates more carefully in the future."
A proposal from the Bavarian branch of the AfD, which wanted to discuss Krach as a victim of a dirty campaign, would ensure more discussion. But this submission was withdrawn at the last moment.
Demonstrative harmony instead of open conflict
Even during the election of the new leadership, party leaders Krupala and Weidel did not have to answer awkward questions - although there was clear dissatisfaction in the party, especially regarding their treatment of Krach.
Instead, demonstrative harmony was shown: surprisingly clearly, Krupala was confirmed as party president with almost 83 percent of the vote, while Weidel got 80 percent.
The two continue to lead the party in tandem, although the harmony was shaken when a journalist asked Weidel why Krupala received more votes. “You mean those five voices?” she said.
To be precise, there was a difference of eight votes in favor of Krupala. The fact is that Alice Weidel is irritating.
More "Young Alternative", less women
Two more things caught the eye in the otherwise almost unchanged AfD presidency: A new member is youth president Hanes Gnauk, although the Office for the Protection of the Constitutional Order sees the party's youth as an "extreme right-wing" organization and keeps an eye on it.
Another thing that caught the eye: In the new presidency, there are no other women, except for Weidel. While Weidel publicly jokes about the subject, behind closed doors it is often heard that the president is "cutting down" all women who could be a political threat to her.
Those familiar with the situation explain the calm atmosphere in Essen by the fact that the AfD has learned from past splits and internal conflicts that it is not good to air dirty laundry in public.
This year it is especially important. Because, in the fall, provincial parliaments are elected in the three eastern provinces where the AfD is leading in the polls. "The sun of participation in government" should shine in the party, Krupala said.
Open conflicts or the dismantling of the party leadership would be counterproductive. However, this apparent harmony and peace could be fragile.
Many members of the AfD said in Essen that at the next party congress at the latest, due to many unresolved issues, real conflicts will break out again - for example, when a possible candidacy for chancellor in the federal elections in Germany will be decided in 2025.
By then at the latest, the AfD bubble could burst.
Bonus video:
