Germans Protest Against the AfD
Thousands of Germans are protesting against the right-wing AfD party in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A wave of demonstrations has swept across the country as the right-wing party gears up for elections next month.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Germany to rally against the rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The demonstrations come ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for late February, with the AfD, known for its hardline anti-migrant stance, polling at around 20%.
The protests occurred on Saturday in several cities, including Berlin and Cologne, with authorities estimating turnout at 35,000 and 40,000, respectively. Videos circulating on social media depicted large crowds gathering in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, chanting slogans and displaying banners denouncing the AfD and proclaiming, “No human is illegal.”
These protests followed the AfD's official launch of its election campaign earlier this week in Halle, central Germany, attracting approximately 4,500 attendees. The event garnered media attention after Elon Musk, owner of X and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, spoke via video link, expressing his “full support” for the AfD and urging people to “preserve German culture” and “protect the German people.” Musk had previously been accused of interfering in Germany's internal affairs.
„Wehrt euch, leistet Widerstand. Gegen den Faschismus hier im Land. Haltet fest zusammen, haltet fest zusammen!“ #b2501 pic.twitter.com/YnTeAU1dNN
— Mehmed König January 25, 2025
The parliamentary elections were announced for February 23 after the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed due to divisions over economic reforms, climate policies, and aid to Ukraine.
The AfD currently ranks as the second most popular party in Germany, with 21% support, according to the Institute for New Social Answers. The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leads with 30% support, while Scholz’s Social Democrats trail at 16%.
Earlier this week, the CDU indicated its willingness to implement stricter anti-migration measures “if the AfD supports our proposals,” marking a significant departure from its policies in the 2010s when the party welcomed hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers.
This apparent policy shift comes in light of numerous reports of migrants being involved in violent crimes. Recently, German authorities arrested a 28-year-old man from Afghanistan following a knife attack in Aschaffenburg that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a two-year-old boy.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Germany to rally against the rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The demonstrations come ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for late February, with the AfD, known for its hardline anti-migrant stance, polling at around 20%.
The protests occurred on Saturday in several cities, including Berlin and Cologne, with authorities estimating turnout at 35,000 and 40,000, respectively. Videos circulating on social media depicted large crowds gathering in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, chanting slogans and displaying banners denouncing the AfD and proclaiming, “No human is illegal.”
These protests followed the AfD's official launch of its election campaign earlier this week in Halle, central Germany, attracting approximately 4,500 attendees. The event garnered media attention after Elon Musk, owner of X and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, spoke via video link, expressing his “full support” for the AfD and urging people to “preserve German culture” and “protect the German people.” Musk had previously been accused of interfering in Germany's internal affairs.
„Wehrt euch, leistet Widerstand. Gegen den Faschismus hier im Land. Haltet fest zusammen, haltet fest zusammen!“ #b2501 pic.twitter.com/YnTeAU1dNN
— Mehmed König January 25, 2025
The parliamentary elections were announced for February 23 after the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed due to divisions over economic reforms, climate policies, and aid to Ukraine.
The AfD currently ranks as the second most popular party in Germany, with 21% support, according to the Institute for New Social Answers. The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leads with 30% support, while Scholz’s Social Democrats trail at 16%.
Earlier this week, the CDU indicated its willingness to implement stricter anti-migration measures “if the AfD supports our proposals,” marking a significant departure from its policies in the 2010s when the party welcomed hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers.
This apparent policy shift comes in light of numerous reports of migrants being involved in violent crimes. Recently, German authorities arrested a 28-year-old man from Afghanistan following a knife attack in Aschaffenburg that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a two-year-old boy.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
