January 22, 2024
2 mins read

Hundreds of thousands protest against far right in Germany

Among the participants at the talks was Martin Sellner, a leader of Austria’s Identitarian Movement, which claims there is a plot by non-white migrants to replace Europe’s “native” white population…reports Asian Lite News

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across towns and cities in Germany to protest against the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

On Sunday, rallies against the AfD were held in Berlin, Munich and Cologne, as well as in more traditional AfD voting strongholds in eastern Germany such as Leipzig and Dresden.

While national polls show AfD in second place behind the main centre-right opposition bloc and ahead of the parties in the government, demonstrations against the far-right party gained momentum after a January 10 report from investigative news website Corrective revealed that migration policies including mass deportations of people of foreign origin were discussed at a meeting of German right-wing hardliners in Potsdam.

Among the participants at the talks was Martin Sellner, a leader of Austria’s Identitarian Movement, which claims there is a plot by non-white migrants to replace Europe’s “native” white population.

The AfD has denied the reported migration plans are party policy.

On Sunday, demonstrators outside the German parliament in Berlin carried signs that said “no place for Nazis” and “Nazis out”.

In Munich, protest organisers said 200,000 people attended, adding that they were forced to end the demonstration early due to overcrowding. Katrin Delrieux, 53, told the AFP news agency in Munich that she hoped the protests against the far right would “make a lot of people rethink” their positions.

“Some might not be sure whether they will vote for the AfD or not, but after this protest, they simply cannot,” she said. In Frankfurt, protester Steffi Kirschenmann told the news agency Reuters that the rallies are “a signal to the world that we won’t let this happen without commenting on it”.

Meanwhile in Dresden, the capital of the eastern region of Saxony, where the far-right party is leading in the polls, authorities had to alter the course of a protest march. The procession was lengthened to make space for an “enormous number of participants”, police in Dresden said on the social media platform X.

Business leaders have also voiced their concerns, with Siemens Energy supervisory board chairman Joe Kaeser telling Reuters the reports revealed by Correctiv trigger “bitter memories”.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also come out in support of the rallies across Germany and views them as a sign of strength against right-wing activism.

In a video message on Sunday, Steinmeier said: “You are standing up against misanthropy and right-wing extremism; these people encourage us all.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who joined a demonstration last weekend, highlighted that any plan to expel immigrants or citizens alike amounted to “an attack against our democracy, and in turn, on all of us”.

He urged “all to take a stand – for cohesion, for tolerance, for our democratic Germany”.

ALSO READ-UK’s chief rabbi says Israel ‘genocide’ claims false

Previous Story

UK’s chief rabbi says Israel ‘genocide’ claims false

Next Story

PM Modi Lauds Judiciary, Calls Ram Temple Solution, Not Dispute

Latest from -Top News

Modi Meets Lula, Eyes Closer Ties

Modi said that both India and Brazil place a high priority on the environment and clean energy….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Afghan Food Crisis Worsens

Afghanistan continues to top the list of countries drawing global humanitarian concern following recent political changes…reports Asian Lite News The World Food Programme has sounded a fresh alarm over Afghanistan’s deepening humanitarian

Global Fury Over Trump’s Tariffs

Ramaphosa pushed back against the justification for the tariff, challenging the interpretation of trade data and pointing to discrepancies in the figures cited….reports Asian Lite News South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on

India Skips UNGA Vote, Flags LeT, JeM Threat

India Urges Global Action to Prevent Terror Groups from Exploiting Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News While abstaining from a UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan, India has urged the international community to ensure
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Pakistan Protests Attack on Frankfurt Consulate

The video being shared on social media depicts the protesters

England Beat Germany Ending 55-Year Wait

England ends its 55-year wait for a knockout victory over