BERLIN (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany rallied for a third weekend to protest the popularity and policies of the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party.
On Sunday, a demonstration was held in Hamburg with the slogan “For diversity and our democracy: Hamburg is united against the AfD”. Organizers said up to 100,000 more people marched through the northern city.
In the western city of Düsseldorf, 100,000 demonstrators gathered on Saturday under the slogan “Against the AfD – We will not remain silent. We don’t look away. We’re taking action!”
There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:
There with you then. Here with you now. As a component of the network for more than 245 years, The Gazette continues to provide reliable data and policies in English on vital issues. Subscribe now to receive:
There with you then. Here with you now. As a component of the network for more than 245 years, The Gazette continues to provide reliable data and policies in English on vital issues. Create an account or log in to continue your reading experience.
Don’t have an account? Create an account
Dozens of smaller protests took place over the weekend, including in the cities of Aachen, Osnabrueck, Kiel, Sigmaringen and Wittenberg, German news agency dpa reported.
The pro-democracy protests began two weeks ago after the investigative journalists’ organization Correctiv published a report claiming that right-wing extremists had recently gathered to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, some of whom held German citizenship. Some members of Alternative for Germany were provided at the meeting.
Growing anxiety over the AfD’s rising support among the German electorate has also catalyzed this month’s events showcasing opposition to the party.
An anti-AfD protest in Hamburg earlier this month had to be cancelled and far more participants than expected showed up.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz applauded the large number of protesters, . He stressed that the government could not safeguard democracy in Germany alone but needs the backing of its citizens.
“Our democracy is not a gift of Dios. Es a human creation,” the chancellor said in his weekly video podcast. “It’s hard when you feel it. And he desires us when he’s being attacked. “
The AfD was founded as a eurosceptic party in 2013 and first entered the Bundestag, Germany’s national parliament, in 2017. A recent vote puts the party in second place nationally with around 23%, well above the 10. 3% of the vote it garnered. in the last federal election in 2021.
Polls show AfD is the top party in eastern Germany, including in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia states, which are slated to hold elections this fall.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, AT M4W 3L4
© 2024 Montreal Gazette, a department of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution or transmission is strictly prohibited.
This uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads) and allows us to analyze our traffic. Learn more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.