Massive demonstrations in Germany to denounce the far right

This article was originally published in English

Holding signs and banners condemning the far-right Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) party, tens of thousands of people gathered across Germany, chanting slogans such as “Never again “, “Against hatred” and “Let’s defend democracy”.

These rallies were the culmination of a series of demonstrations which have gained momentum in recent days.

According to the police, the demonstration organized on Saturday in Frankfurt attracted 35,000 people. Demonstrations in Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Hanover, among others, also attracted large crowds.

A similar demonstration organized on Friday in Hamburg, the country’s second city, attracted, according to the police, 50,000 people. The gathering even had to be interrupted prematurely due to the crowds, which posed security problems.

The secret AfD meeting

The protests were sparked by a report published last week by the investigative media outlet Correction, according to which a far-right meeting in November brought together the AfD and personalities from the identity movement. The Austrian Martin Sellner presented his vision of “remigration” immigrants, which according to his plan also concerns German citizens.

The AfD sought to distance itself from the meeting, saying it had no organizational or financial ties to the event and that members who attended did so in a purely personal capacity. Nonetheless, AfD leader Alice Weidel parted ways with an advisor who was present, while denouncing the work of Correction.

The general anger sparked by this investigation has reignited calls in the country to ban the AfD. On Saturday, the Brandenburg section of the German Greens voted at a convention to pursue a potential ban to prevent the rise of a “new fascist government in Germany.”

However, many opponents of the AfD have spoken out against the idea, arguing that the process would be long, that success is highly uncertain, and that it could benefit the party by allowing it to present itself as a victim.

Elected officials from across the political spectrum, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed support for the protests.

The popularity of the far right in Germany worries

Although Germany has seen other protests against the far right in recent years, the scale and scope of the demonstrations held this weekend – not only in major cities, but also in dozens of cities smaller ones across the country – are remarkable.

These protests also build on growing concern over the past year over growing support for the AfD among the German electorate.

The AfD was founded as a Eurosceptic party in 2013 and first entered the Bundestag in 2017. Polls now place it second nationally with around 23%, well above the 10s. 3% that he obtained during the last federal elections in 2021.