Protests against far right bring 500,000 people in Germany

Thousands of protesters returned to the streets of Germany this weekend to protest against the rise of the far right and the connivance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with the Alternative Ultranationalist Party for Germany (AFD). In all, 500,000 people participated in acts in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Colony and Stuttgart.

The largest protest occurred in Munich, where 320,000 people took the streets, a number far greater than 75,000 initially expected. The number corrects 15% of the population of Bavaria, where the city is situated. In the capital Berlin, 160,000 participated in the demonstrations on Sunday (2), according to local police. In Hamburg, 180,000 people spoke up.

According to a survey by TAZ, since the beginning of 2025 between 1.4 million and 1.9 million Germans have spoken on the streets against the rise of AFD. The acts were organized by unions, social movements, leftist parties and Jewish entities, all united by the motto “Wir Sind Die Brandmauer!” (“We are the barrier of fire!”), Reference to the need to isolate the far right in the political scene.

Posters such as “Five minutes to 1933” and “Merz, Listen to Mutti” were seen, in reference to former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticized the movement of his successor at CDU.

The main target of the demonstrations was Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU and the voting intentions for the parliamentary elections of 23 February. The protesters’ revolt was driven by Merz’s decision to rely on AFD votes to approve measures of hardening of immigration rules in Bundestag.

The strategy broke with the “sanitary cord” traditionally maintained by democratic parties to isolate the far right from World War II.

The political crisis has been deepened since CDU signaled a willingness to indirect alliances with AFD in East German states such as Turíngia and Saxony-Anhalt. Experts point out that this movement normalizes the far right and its xenophobic guidelines, making room for political realignment that can affect the country’s democratic future.

Research indicates electoral stability

Despite massive mobilization, the latest polls indicate that the electoral scenario remains stable, with Merz’s Union (CDU/CSU), still in the lead. Insao survey, published last Saturday (8), points out that conservatives maintain about 30% of voting intentions, while AFD follows as second force, with approximately 20%. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) appears in third place with 15%.

CDU/CSU: 29%

AfD: 21%

SPD: 16%

Verdes: 12%

Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW): 6%

Left: 5%

FDP (liberals): 4%

Other parties: 7%

Experts heard by DER SPIEGEL point out that fear of immigration and recent attacks on Germany may explain the resilient performance of CDU and AFD in research, despite the wave of manifestations.

According to the publication, the perception of insecurity is being explored politically to justify migratory hardening policies, which Merz has adopted to capture voters from the far right.

First Electoral Debate Highlights Tensions

This Sunday (9), candidates for the German government participated in the first television debate, which had as its main themes the migratory crisis, the economy of the country and the advance of the far right.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) accused Friedrich Merz (CDU) of “Breaking the Sanitary Cord” by accepting AFD support to harden the Bundestag immigration rules. Merz, in turn, denied any formal alliance with the far right, but justified his decision by saying that the security of the Germans is at risk after recent attacks by immigrants.

The economic crisis was another central point of the debate. Merz criticized Scholz’s management, stating that Germany faces a scenario of “deindustrialization” and loss of competitiveness.

In response, Scholz attributed the economic crisis to external factors, such as war in Ukraine, and stressed that his government implemented measures to strengthen the economy, including investments in infrastructure and policies to promote energy transition. He also emphasized the importance of a balanced approach that combines economic growth with social justice.

Pressured by the bad results in the polls, Scholz appealed and recalled that his government hardened immigration rules and increased by 70% the number of deportations.

International politics also generated clashes. Scholz classified as “scandalous” Donald Trump’s proposal to Gaza and warned that Germany would immediately react if the US government would impose rates against European products.

Merz adopted a more diplomatic tone, arguing that it was necessary to wait as the republican proposals will be implemented.

Despite the strong popular mobilization against the far right, research continues indicating a stable scenario, with CDU/CSU in the lead and the consolidated AFD as a second force.

The next electoral debate, which will take place over the weekend, will also include candidates Alice Weidel (AFD) and Robert Haback (green), and may be decisive in the campaign’s final stretch.