Thousands protest against Germany’s shift to the right

Tens of thousands of people have protested against plans to limit immigration proposed by opposition conservatives and supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Friedrich Merz, the conservatives’ leader who is tipped to become Germany’s next chancellor after a national election set for February 23, sponsored a draft bill with AfD support, breaking a taboo against co-operating with the far-right party.

Around 160,000 gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, next to the Bundestag lower house, according to the Berlin police.

The protesters held banners reading “We are the firewall, no co-operation with the AfD” and “Merz, go home, shame on you!”.

Merz, the CDU/CSU’s candidate for chancellor, on Friday tried to push the immigration bill in the lower house but failed to secure a majority as some of the deputies from his own party refused to support it.

Their failure to endorse his draft dealt a blow to the authority of Merz, who had pushed for the law despite warnings from party colleagues that he risked being tarnished with the charge of voting alongside the far-right.

Mainstream German parties had previously joined forces to prevent the AfD, which is under surveillance by Germany’s security services, from achieving legislative power, something they call a firewall against the far-right.

Organisers originally expected about 20,000 for the demonstration but police estimated 160,000 people had joined.

“We are currently experiencing a large turnout at the demonstration,” Berlin police wrote on X, reporting that the Bundestag train station had been closed as a precaution due to the large number of people.

Speaking at the opening of the rally, Michel Friedman, who left the CDU in protest a few days ago, said the AfD was a “party of hate” that had “become a problem for the country”.

He added the CDU-CSU’s decision to vote with the AfD was an “inexcusable mistake.”

“Let’s not make it too easy for ourselves by attacking the CDU instead of pointing out that every fifth person in the country is voting for the AfD,” he added, as quoted by the Berliner Morgenpost.

Demonstrations were held in several German cities on Saturday and Sunday, and police were expecting large protests again on Monday, coinciding with a CDU convention.

with Reuters