Over 200,000 protest against AfD ahead of February elections
Over 200,000 people gathered in Munich, Germany, to protest against right-wing extremism ahead of the upcoming snap elections, as reported by Euronews.com.
The far-right, anti-immigration party 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD) is currently in second place in recent polls, triggering widespread protests across the country ahead of the February 23 elections.
The protest at Theresienwiese in Munich, where Oktoberfest is held every year, attracted a crowd much larger than expected, according to the dpa news agency.
Event organizers estimated the crowd could have reached up to 320,000 people, with many carrying placards against the AfD, bearing slogans like “Racism and hatred are no alternative.”
“We are protesting against the right-wing. It’s horrifying that right-wing ideas have become acceptable again, that they are openly voiced once more,” said Veronika Frank, a retiree.
The protest was supported by activist groups, the Munich Film Festival, churches, and the football clubs FC Bayern and TSV 1860 Munich.
The police stated to local media that the demonstration had been peaceful. Similar protests drew large crowds in Hanover, Rostock, and other parts of Germany, mirroring a broader wave of demonstrations across the country in recent weeks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
