Thousands march in Magdeburg, Germany, ahead of elections
Thousands of people took part in a march in the German city of Magdeburg on September 5 in support of democracy ahead of regional elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The vote is due to take place the following day, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could come first, according to polls.
Participants' slogans
March participants held signs calling for more love and less hate, a life without Nazis, and reminding people of the foreign origin of potatoes. The event was organized by the civic groups coalition “Saxony-Anhalt: Open to the World,” Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
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Expectations for the vote
AfD, which the publication describes as an ultra-right, anti-migrant, pro-Russian and Donald Trump-supporting party, leads polls in the state, which has a population of about 2.1 million people. A party victory would be its first win in regional elections and an unprecedented breakthrough for the far right in postwar Germany.
At the same time, AfD does not have a guaranteed absolute majority that would allow it to govern independently. All other parties have ruled out forming a government with AfD. The source names the pro-Russian left-wing BSW party as an exception, whose members do not have a common position on such cooperation.
