The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Saturday unanimously elected party co-chair Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor in February's parliamentary elections. The motion was carried to thunderous applause by almost 600 party delegates gathered for a conference in Riesa in the eastern state of Saxony.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party has formally nominated Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor. #EuropeNews

Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), firmly rejected any cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Friday evening.

Thousands of people demonstrated against a convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany on Saturday, blocking some roads and delaying the meeting's start as parties launched their campaigns for the country's election next month.

A convention of a far-right party is being met by protests in Germany as it and other major parties launch their campaigns for the country's election next month.