Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated across Germany on September 12, taking to the streets in approximately 20 cities to oppose the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. According to organizers, around 150,000 people participated in the nationwide rallies, which followed a decisive regional election result that brought the anti-immigration party to the threshold of forming a state government.
Protests Erupt Across Major German Cities
Major demonstrations unfolded in urban centers including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich following a call to action by Pruef, an organization that advocates for a formal ban on the AfD, as reported by France 24. Protestors carried signs featuring slogans such as “Ban the AfD now” and “Democracy needs no alternatives.” Christoph Bautz, head of the campaign group Campact, stated that a broad cross-section of civil society mobilized to prevent what he termed enemies of the constitution from gaining government power.
Police in Berlin reported that several thousand individuals joined multiple demonstrations in the capital. Meanwhile, Campact estimated turnouts of roughly 25,000 demonstrators in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich. Concurrently, the AfD staged a counter-demonstration in Berlin featuring Kristin Brinker, the party’s lead candidate for upcoming regional elections in the capital.
The Electoral Breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt
The protests were triggered by the AfD’s performance in the eastern region of Saxony-Anhalt. According to election reports, the Russia-friendly and anti-immigration party captured nearly 44 percent of the vote in the September 6 election, outpacing the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which secured 17 percent.
Although the party fell three seats short of securing an absolute majority, it has initiated exploratory talks with other groups and independent members of parliament. If successful, this maneuver would establish the first extreme-right state government in Germany since World War II, a prospect that has deeply unsettled political observers and citizens who feel Germany bears a profound historical responsibility regarding its Nazi past.
Political Debate Over a Potential Party Ban
The electoral success has intensified a national debate regarding whether mainstream political forces should pursue legal steps to outlaw the AfD. However, legal hurdles for a formal ban under German constitutional law remain exceptionally high. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the centre-right CDU party has expressed skepticism regarding the viability and wisdom of pursuing a ban, preferring instead to counter the party through political means.
