BERLIN, GERMANY – JANUARY 25: Protesters hold up mobile phone lights during a sea of lights demonstration against right-wing extremism and Donald Trump on January 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Various civil rights and environmental groups organized the event as a public display of resistance to threats to democracy from right-wing politicians and parties. In their statement, organizers also singled out U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk for harming civil society by using disinformation for political gain. (Photo by Omar Messinger/Getty Images)
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BERLIN (AP) — Tens of thousands of Germans protested in Berlin and other cities on Saturday against the rise of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of an election. General election on February 23rd.
At Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, a large crowd whistled, sang anti-fascist songs and held banners denouncing the Alternative for Germany party. Activists said they hoped the rally would also draw attention to other events. european far right party and the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Those who fuel racism and attack climate protection are not just campaigning, they are endangering lives,” Luisa Neubauer of Fridays for a Future Climate told the crowd, which police estimated at 35,000. people. Police estimated the crowd at the Cologne rally at 40,000.
Europe’s largest economy shaken by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition collapsed Late last year, there was a debate about how to revive amid stagnation.
Saturday’s protest came as the AfD kicked off a campaign in the central city of Halle, where party leader Alice Weidel, the party’s candidate for chancellor, addressed a crowd of about 4,500 people.
HALLE, GERMANY – JANUARY 25: Tech billionaire Elon Musk, candidate for chancellor of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, during the AfD campaign launch rally on January 25 Alice Weidel speaks via video transmission in Halle, Germany, 2025. Musk is a vocal supporter of the Alternative for Germany party and has urged German voters to vote for the party. The Alternative for Germany currently ranks second in opinion polls ahead of snap elections for the Bundestag scheduled for February 23.
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Wedel is supported by Muskhe spoke remotely at the rally. His public support caused an uproar in Germany.
Mainstream parties have announced they will not cooperate with the Alternative for Germany. The opposition center-right Alliance bloc and its chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz topped pre-election polls, followed by far-right parties.
Meltz said Friday his party would be next week motion will be made Advising parliament on strengthening immigration policy, one of the main election issues. If the motions are put to a vote with the party’s help and passed, Merz could face accusations of breaching a long-standing promise not to cooperate directly or indirectly with the AfD.
Merz earlier swear People without proper documentation are banned from entering the country and deportations will be stepped up if he is elected prime minister. His comment is on Knife attack In Aschaffenburg, a rejected asylum seeker killed a man and a two-year-old boy.
