300,000 strong protests sweep Germany against far-right

Over the weekend, Germany witnessed an unprecedented wave of protests with approximately 300,000 people taking to the streets nationwide. As Euronews reports, in Munich, a demonstration against the far-right was cut short as safety concerns arose when a staggering 100,000 individuals gathered, including members of the controversial Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

These protests, echoing in cities like Cologne, Berlin, and Hamburg, were sparked by revelations of a recent far-right meeting discussing mass deportations of millions, even those with German citizenship.

The meeting's attendees included figures from the extremist Identitarian Movement and the AfD.

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What makes these demonstrations noteworthy is not just their scale in major cities but also the widespread participation in smaller cities across the country. The surge in opposition indicates a growing resistance against the AfD, currently polling at around 23%, a significant rise from its 2021 federal election performance.

The catalyst for this outcry was a report from Correctiv, shedding light on the far-right meeting in November. Martin Sellner, a prominent member of the Identitarian Movement, presented a vision for "remigration" through deportations.

Prominent politicians, irrespective of party lines, have voiced support for the protests, emphasizing the defense of democracy against its adversaries.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asserted that those protesting are safeguarding the republic and constitution against external threats.

[With information sourced from Euronews]