STORY: German police used water cannons on protesters blocking a highway near Giessen on Saturday (November 29) and scuffles broke out near the venue where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was to elect a leader for its new youth organisation.

Several organisations such as the powerful DGB union and the left-wing opposition party Die Linke had called for counter-protests.

The previous AfD youth organisation was only loosely connected to the party and disbanded in spring this year, following an assessment by German intelligence services which concluded the wing was "confirmed right-wing extremist.”

According to public broadcaster ZDF's "Polit Barometer" poll, nationwide support for the AfD stood at 27% on November 21.

The AfD's meeting, sealed off by police, was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT).

At 11:25 a.m., the gathering had still not begun. It was believed the delay was due to the protests and the resulting limited access to the venue as local authorities expected some 50,000 anti-AfD demonstrators to descend on the university town over the course of the weekend.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: GIESSEN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POLICE WATER CANNON USED ON ANT-AFD PROTESTERS BLOCKING HIGHWAY LEADING TO AFD EVENT

2. POLICE SCUFFLING WITH PROTESTERS

3. VARIOUS OF WATER CANNON

4. VARIOUS OF POLICE SCUFFLING WITH PROTESTERS WHILE WATER CANNON IS IN USE

5. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AND POLICE ON SIDE OF ROAD

6. PROTESTERS ON GROUND WITH BLANKET

7. VARIOUS OF WATER CANNON IN USE AS LOUDSPEAKER VOICE IS HEARD SAYING "MOVE AWAY, DO NOT RESIST POLICE OFFICERS"

8. VARIOUS OF POLICE PUSHING BACK PROTESTERS

9. VARIOUS OF USE OF WATER CANNON

10. VARIOUS OF POLICE PUSHING BACK PROTESTERS

11. VARIOUS OF POLICE SCUFFLING WITH PROTESTERS, PERSON ON GROUND