Munich - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Germany is witnessing huge demonstrations that indicate growing popular concern about the rise of the far right in the country, amid fears of a radical change in the political scene on the eve of the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 23. According to the European News Network website in Brussels, "Euronews", which added in a report on this matter, "Munich witnessed a huge demonstration in protest against the rise of the far right in Germany, as more than 200,000 people gathered in Theresienwiese Square in response to the call of the "Munich Diverse City" coalition, which raised the slogan "Democracy needs you". The demonstration began with great momentum, as Munich police announced only ten minutes after the start of the event that more than 100,000 demonstrators participated, and with the continued flow of protesters, the number rose to 200,000 demonstrators according to official estimates, while the organizers indicated that the number had exceeded 320,000 participants.
These protests are part of a series of demonstrations witnessed by various German cities since late January, after the Christian Democratic Party (CDU-CSU) passed a new asylum law with the support of the far-right "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) party, which sparked a wave of popular anger and prompted thousands to take to the streets in rejection of what they considered a dangerous alliance that threatens democratic values.
Voices Protesters: Fears of a slide towards the far right
A number of protesters spoke about their motivations for participating in the protest, expressing their concern about the growth of far-right rhetoric in the German political scene
One protester said: "It is clear that parties that define themselves as centrist are gradually drifting towards the right, and this is very worrying. We need to be aware of what is happening, especially since figures like Friedrich Merz are constantly testing the boundaries to see how much society accepts these trends. We need to be more aware in our electoral decisions."
Another protester stated: "I am participating today to send a strong message against the rise of the far right. History teaches us that complacency with these trends can lead to disasters, just as happened in 1933. It is unfortunate to see the growth of support for parties that do not believe in democracy, and this is what drives me to take to the streets."
A third protester said: "I am here to defend democracy, not just to oppose the far right. We have to stand for democratic values, not just against the dangerous tendencies represented by the AfD.”
“It is important to show that the centre of society is the foundation, and not to leave any more room for the far-right parties,” added one participant. “And the centrist parties must not be under the illusion that they can exploit this tide for political gain, because that gives these forces even more influence.”
Statements from the organizers: Concerns about the future of democracy
Mikki Wingates, chairwoman of the Munich Diverse City alliance and one of the organizers of the demonstration, emphasized the importance of this popular movement, saying: “We have been preparing this demonstration since January, and we see it as absolutely necessary, especially with the federal elections approaching. Democracy is in danger, because an extremist party could gain unexpected votes, which could change the political landscape. We want to send a clear message that we are a cohesive and open society that rejects extremism in all its forms."
Protests in Bremen against the far right: More than 35,000 demonstrators
The demonstrations against the far right were not limited to Munich, as the city of Bremen also witnessed a large protest in which 35,000 people participated in Domshof Square, in response to the call of the "Loud Against the Right" coalition, which was supported by a number of civil society organizations.
The demonstration witnessed an increase in the number of participants over time, as the police updated their estimates several times, raising the final number to about 35,000 demonstrators, while the organizers confirmed that the actual number may have exceeded 50,000 people.
The demonstration was scheduled to take place in the market square in the city center, but due to the large influx of demonstrators, the organizers decided to move the event to Domshof Square to provide more space for the large crowds.
Growing public anger against the far right in Germany
These large demonstrations reflect the growing public concern about the rise of the far right in Germany, amid fears of a radical change in the political landscape.
He stresses The protesters stressed that their battle is not only against a specific party, but against any attempt to drag the country towards extremist nationalist policies, stressing that defending pluralism and democracy is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity in these sensitive circumstances.