Germany: 250,000 people including FC Bayern protest the AfD and collaboration with the far right in Munich
People in Germany are making clear their aversion to the fact that the head of the conservative Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), Friedrich Merz, recently shattered a taboo that has long applied in German politics when, solely with the support of votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the CDU/CSU pushed through a non-binding resolution in the Bundestag calling on the federal government, held by the Greens and Social Democrats (SPD), to tighten asylum and migration policy. In Munich, protesters assembled in sunny weather on the Theresienwiese where Oktoberfest, the traditional beer festival, takes place annually.
News server Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that many people assembling under the slogan “Democracy Needs You” carried signs, most of which were against the AfD. According to one, “The AfD gets on one’s nerves more than homework.”
Another sign carried the message “AfD – no way, bud.” The slogan “We are the firewall!” was repeatedly chanted during the protest.
In Germany, political parties call the principle of blocking the AfD and not collaborating with it the “firewall”. A speaker from Austria also warned against Germany allowing what has happened in his homeland to take place during the upcoming elections.
In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won parliamentary elections in September and is negotiating with the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) on creating a governing coalition. Deutsche Presse- Agentur (DPA) reports that the demonstration in the Bavarian capital was supported by diverse groups such as football clubs FC Bayern and TSV 1860, the Munich Film Festival, and religious societies.
Bavarian State Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich, the head of the CSU cell in Munich, did not express support for the protest because he expected it would target his party’s asylum and migration policy. Another assembly convened by the Grandmothers against the Far Right movement in Hannover was attended by 24,000 people, according to the news server Norddeutscher Rundfunk.
Several dozen demonstrators surrounded an AfD campaign stand at a particular spot during the Hannover protest. Police officers kept the two groups apart.
Early elections to the Bundestag will be held in Germany in two weeks. According to polls, Merz’s CDU/CSU has the greatest chance of winning, with the AfD coming in second.
What you need to know
Mass protests against the AfD – In Munich, 250,000 people demonstrated against democratic politicians collaborating with the far-right AfD. The event was peaceful and a similar protest was also convened in Hannover.
Reason for the protests – People expressed their disagreement with the head of the CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, having shattered a politcal taboo when he pushed through a resolution in the Bundestag solely with the support of the AfD.
Reactions and support – Different organizations supported the demonstration, including FC Bayern. The CSU cell in Munich refused to participate because the protest was targeting its migration policy.
Upcoming elections – Elections to the Bundestag will be held in Germany in two weeks and the CDU/CSU is ahead in the polls, followed by the AfD.
