Large-scale demonstrations against right-wing extremism took place across Germany over the weekend, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in cities like Munich, Berlin, and Hanover. The protests were sparked by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) voting with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) on a bill to tighten immigration policy.
In Munich, an estimated 250,000 people participated in a protest under the slogan "Democracy Needs You!" on Saturday afternoon. The organizers claimed a turnout of over 320,000. The protest was organized by the "Munich is Diverse!" association, which criticized the CDU/CSU's decision to work with the AfD.
In Berlin, a chain of lights was displayed in the evening, while in Marburg, 14,000 people participated in a demonstration on Sunday. Similar protests were organized in Duesseldorf and several smaller cities across Germany.
The CDU/CSU has been criticized for its cooperation with the AfD, which is considered a partially right-wing extremist party by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has repeatedly stated that he will not tolerate any cooperation with the AfD or its participation in a future government. However, he has defended his decision to accept the AfD's support during the vote in the Bundestag.
Further protests in defense of democracy are planned for Friday and Saturday, leading up to the Bundestag elections on February 23rd. Some of these protests will be combined with demonstrations by the "Fridays for Future" movement and other organizations advocating for greater climate protection.