250,000 demonstrators take to the streets against far-right AfD party, ahead of election

Other rallies are planned for Sunday, notably in Berlin and Dresden in Saxony, a stronghold of the anti-immigrant and anti-establishment Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Political leaders, religious representatives, but also coaches of the German football championship, the Bundesliga, called for the mobilization of the German population. According to public television channel ARD, around 250,000 people demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Saturday, January 20. Polling is currently at its highest level just months before three important regional elections in the east of the country, where the party has the most supporters.

The mobilization was sparked by the revelation on January 10, by the German investigative media corrective, of a plan to mass expel foreigners or people of foreign origin discussed in November during a meeting of extremists in Potsdam, near Berlin. Among the participants were a figure from the radical identity movement, the Austrian Martin Sellner, and members of the AfD. A revelation that shook Germany.

Another gathering is planned for Sunday

The largest gathering took place in Frankfurt, the country’s financial capital, with 35,000 participants, according to local police. An equal number of demonstrators gathered in Hannover (North), some holding placards “Nazis Out”,

While around 30,000 people marched in the streets of Dortmund (west) and 16,000 in Halle, according to police. Demonstrations were also held in Erfurt, Aachen, Kassel and many other smaller towns as part of the daily activities this week.

Other rallies are planned for Sunday, particularly in Berlin and Dresden in Saxony, strongholds of the anti-immigrant and anti-establishment party.