Thousands protest in Germany as far-right AfD eyes first state government since Nazi Party

Thousands of people took to the streets across Germany after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party recorded its best ever result in a state election, raising fears that the party could make further gains in upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.The protests followed the AfD’s victory in Sunday’s election in Saxony-Anhalt, where it won almost 44% of the vote and secured 39 of the 83 seats in the state legislature. While the party fell short of the majority needed to govern on its own, it is seeking the support of lawmakers from other parties to form what would be Germany’s first far-right state government since the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP), or Nazi Party, ruled the country.In Berlin, protesters gathered around the Brandenburg Gate for a pro-democracy and anti-AfD demonstration. Police estimated there were about 5,000 people, while organizers said more than 14,000 people attended. Protests were also reported in Potsdam, Münster, Göttingen, Dresden, Aachen, Bamberg, Darmstadt and Halberstadt.The demonstrations reflected growing concern about the AfD’s electoral push. Protesters carried signs opposing racism and fascism, while speakers urged voters not to give up after the Saxony-Anhalt result.Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the memorial at the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, described the result as a “shame” and warned against quietly accepting the prospect of an AfD-led government.The elections have also put pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Merz ruled out cooperation with the AfD, but acknowledged that the result had shaken his party “to its foundations.” He rejected suggestions that he should resign and said he would continue with his government’s reform program.The rise of the AfD is now being closely watched ahead of state elections scheduled for September 20. The party leads voting intention polls in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with around 35%, although the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) has narrowed the gap after regaining support in recent months. The race in Berlin is even more fragmented: the CDU only has a narrow lead over the Left party and the AfD.Germany’s long-standing political “firewall” against the AfD is also facing new scrutiny. The country’s main parties have traditionally refused to cooperate with the party, while the AfD has criticized the policy as undemocratic. The populist left BSW, however, has signaled that it could work with the AfD, particularly on issues such as migration and Germany’s policy towards Russia.The AfD has been classified as far-right by Germany’s internal intelligence agency in Saxony-Anhalt, a designation the party rejects. Its national leadership has presented the Saxony-Anhalt result as a breakthrough, and its co-leader Alice Weidel said the party would aim to win at least 40% in Germany’s next national election in 2029.Meanwhile, the result has raised concerns beyond Germany. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure described the AfD’s success as a “very, very worrying sign”, saying Europe was facing a broader populist challenge.The latest demonstrations are part of a broader mobilization against the AfD’s nationalist and anti-immigration agenda, which has repeatedly sparked protests over its proposals to tighten immigration rules and pursue deportations.