Around 150,000 people protest against AfD in Germany
In Germany, around 150,000 people, according to organizers’ estimates, took part in protests on Saturday against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Demonstrations were held in about 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, following the party’s victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt.
Protests in major cities
According to France 24, the protests were called by the Pruef organization, which advocates banning the AfD. Participants held placards with the slogans “Ban AfD now” and “Democracy needs no alternatives.”
Berlin police reported several thousand participants in several demonstrations in the capital. The campaign group Campact, which was also involved in the protests, said there were around 25,000 demonstrators in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich.
Election in Saxony-Anhalt
The AfD came first in the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, winning nearly 44% of the vote. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union received 17% of the vote.
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The AfD fell three seats short of an absolute majority. The party began talks with other groups and lawmakers on forming a state government. According to France 24, it seeks to form Germany’s first far-right state government since World War II.
Campact head Christoph Bautz said that representatives of various sectors of civil society took to the streets to prevent the AfD from coming to power in Saxony-Anhalt. At the same time, Chancellor Merz is skeptical about the idea of a formal ban on the party, for which Germany has high legal barriers.
In Berlin, the AfD also held a counter-demonstration. It was attended by Kristin Brinker, the party’s lead candidate in the regional election in the capital scheduled for next weekend.
