A week before Germany's general election, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin to rally for democracy and against the far right. With tensions high ahead of the crucial vote, protestors sent a strong message of resistance.
As the anti-immigrant, far-right Alternative for Germany party continues to gain support, protesters took to the streets of Berlin on Sunday to voice their opposition. The rally followed U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s call for Germany to reconsider its stance on working with far-right parties. His remarks further heightened political tensions ahead of the election.
Police estimated the crowd at 30,000, while organizers claimed it was closer to 38,000. Protesters carried placards opposing the AfD, which is expected to finish second in the election. Organizers urged action against extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, and social injustice, and called for a strong defense of democratic values.
Amid the demonstration, activists encouraged people to vote in the upcoming election, warning against the normalization of far-right rhetoric.
The CDU-CSU alliance, led by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to lead the election. Meanwhile, the AfD has gained significant support in the polls and is projected to achieve a record-breaking 20 percent of the vote.
The elections to the German Bundestag will take place on 23 February.
Read next
01:49
Desperate residents in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are facing severe cash shortages as banks remain shut following the M23 rebel group’s seizure of the city. With no access to their funds, many are struggling to afford food, electricity, and basic necessities.
01:40
Burundi is struggling to cope with a rapid influx of over 40,000 refugees fleeing intensified fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN has warned of an escalating humanitarian crisis as thousands arrive daily, many in urgent need of aid.
01:25
The city of Buriticupu, in Brazil’s northeastern Amazon, is facing a worsening crisis as massive sinkholes continue to expand, forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency. More than 1,200 residents are at risk of losing their homes.
01:14
Hamas has handed over the bodies of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, deepening national mourning in Israel. Their fate had remained uncertain for months after their abduction during the October 7, 2023 attack.
00:52
Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering health insurance executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street in December, appeared in a New York court on Friday. He faces state murder and terrorism charges, as well as a federal case where he could face the death penalty.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment