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PROTESTS

Tens of thousands protest in Germany against far right

Tens of thousands of people attended rallies across Germany against the far-right AfD party on Saturday, the latest wave of such protests over the past three weeks.

Published: 4 February 2024 09:13 CET
Demonstrators protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party outside the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany
Demonstrators protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party outside the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany on February 3, 2024 (Photo by Adam BERRY / AFP)

Nearly 150,000 people turned out in Berlin according to police, some forming a human chain in front of parliament. Organisers put the figure at 300,000.

Similar protests took place in around 200 other cities.

The wave of mobilisation against Alternative for Germany (AfD) was sparked by a January 10 report by investigative outlet Correctiv revealing that AfD members had discussed the expulsion of immigrants and “non-assimilated citizens” at a meeting with extremists.

The report sent shock waves across Germany at a time when the AfD is soaring in opinion polls, months ahead of three major regional elections in eastern Germany where their support is strongest.

“All together against racism,” the crowd in Berlin shouted. Some held posters that said “Heart instead of hate” or “Racism is not an alternative”.

Demonstrators protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party outside the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany

Demonstrators protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party outside the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany on February 3, 2024, holding placards that read ‘Grannies against the right’ and ‘Nazis out’ during a rally to protest against right-wing politics. (Photo by Adam BERRY / AFP)

READ ALSO: German far-right AfD voters unmoved by protest wave

Many people hoping to attend the Berlin rally found the site already packed, and were directed to a nearby park or the riverbanks along the Spree River, AFP journalists saw.

“I don’t know if these demonstrations will influence AfD voters,” Margret Hurth, a 53-year-old childcare worker, told AFP.

“But it’s important to send a signal, because we need more humanity and respect for our differences.”

“I came to set an example,” said Martin Raue, a university professor who had come from Sweden to attend the rally. “I was born in Germany.”

The Berlin rally was organised by the “Hand in Hand” collective, which is made up of 1,800 organisations, including the Fridays for Future climate group.

Around 700 police were deployed for the rally, which ended without incident late in the afternoon.

‘Against hate’

A human chain was also formed around the state assembly building in Potsdam, just southeast of Berlin.

Demonstrators stand hand in hand to form a human chain around the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany

Demonstrators stand hand in hand to form a human chain around the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany on February 3, 2024, during a rally to protest against right-wing politics under the motto ‘We are the firewall’ (Wir sind die Brandmauer). (Photo by Adam BERRY / AFP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed the demonstrations in a post early Saturday on X, formerly Twitter.

“In small and large cities across the country, numerous citizens are gathering to demonstrate again this weekend against forgetting, against hate and inciting hate. A strong sign for our democracy and our constitution,” he wrote.

Markus Soeder, the powerful leader of the conservative CSU party in the opposition, denounced the AfD as “a deeply far-right party” in comments to the Rheinische Post newspaper.

“I’m literally shocked each time I hear their hateful speeches,” he added.

The AfD, an anti-immigration party, confirmed the presence of its members at a November meeting with Martin Sellner, a leader of Austria’s white pride Identitarian Movement.

READ ALSO: How much of a threat is Austria’s far-right Identitarian Movement?

But it has denied taking on the “remigration” project championed by Sellner and his movement, which subscribes to the “great replacement” conspiracy theory that claims there is a plot to replace Europe’s “native” white population with non-white migrants.

The party has more than 30 percent support in some parts of the former East Germany, where regional elections are due to be held later this year.

The AfD denounced “a campaign against the only true opposition party in Germany”, in a post on X Saturday.

“Where are we in Germany when a government calls for a demonstration against part of its population?” it asked.

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FRANCE AND GERMANY

France’s Macron visits Germany to soothe ties and warn of far-right peril

Emmanuel Macron on Sunday embarks on the first state visit to Germany by a French president in a quarter century, seeking to ease recent tensions and also warn of the dangers of the far right ahead of EU elections.

Published: 26 May 2024 08:19 CEST
France's Macron visits Germany to soothe ties and warn of far-right peril

Macron on his three-day, four-stop visit will seek to emphasise the historic importance of the postwar relationship between the two key EU states, as France next month commemorates 80 years since the D-Day landings that marked the beginning of the end of German World War II occupation.

But all has not been smooth in a relationship often seen as the engine of the EU, with Berlin taken aback by Macron’s refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine and German officials said to be uneasy at times about his often-theatrical style of foreign policy.

In a question-and-answer session on social media with young people earlier this month, Macron enlisted help from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz when asked if the Franco-German “couple” was still working.

“Hello dear friends, long live French-German friendship!” Scholz said in French in a video on Macron’s X feed. “Thank you Olaf! I very much agree with you,” Macron replied in heavily accented German.

While Macron is a frequent visitor to Berlin, the trip will be the first state visit in 24 years following a trip by Jacques Chirac in 2000 and the sixth since the first postwar state visit by Charles de Gaulle in in 1962.

Macron’s trip will begin Sunday afternoon with a day of talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose role is largely ceremonial compared with the might of the French presidency.

On Tuesday he will travel to Dresden in the former East Germany to deliver a speech on Europe at a European festival. Tuesday sees Macron in the western German city of Munster and later in Meseberg outside Berlin for talks with Scholz and a Franco-German joint cabinet meeting.

‘Ways of compromise’

The trip comes two weeks ahead of European elections where polls show that in a major potential embarrassment for Macron, his coalition is trailing well behind the far right and may struggle to even reach third place.

The speech in Dresden, a city where the German far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) garners considerable support, will likely see Macron warn of the danger the far right poses to Europe.

In a keynote address on foreign policy last month, Macron issued a dire warning about the threats to Europe in a changing world in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“Our Europe, today, is mortal and it can die,” Macron said. “It can die and this depends only on our choices.”

Officials from both sides are at pains to emphasise that while there are periodic tensions on specific issues, the fundamental basis of the relationship remains sound.

But Macron’s refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine sparked an unusually acidic response from Scholz that Germany had no such plans. Germany also does not share Macron’s enthusiasm for a European strategic autonomy less dependent on the United States.

“The Franco-German relationship is about disagreeing and trying to find ways of compromise,” said Helene Miard-Delacroix, specialist in German history at the Sorbonne university in Paris.

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