German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock participated in the demonstration in Potsdam.
About 25,000 people demonstrated in the German capital Berlin on Sunday against the deportation plans of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, reports Saksalaislehti Der Spiegel.
In Berlin, the protesters’ signs stated “in defense of democracy”. The signs also stated that “AfD is not an option”.
A smaller demonstration was held in Potsdam near Berlin, attended by 10,000 people. Among them were, among others, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock.
– I stand here as one of the thousands of Potsdamers who defend democracy and [vastustavat] old and new fascism, Baerbock commented.
Similar demonstrations were organized throughout Germany on Sunday.
In the background are the far-right’s plans to deport immigrants
Earlier this week, it was reported that AfD leaders, a number of well-known neo-Nazi activists and several wealthy businessmen met in Potsdam last November. At the meeting, the parties planned to deport millions of immigrants if the AfD became the country’s ruling party.
The matter was revealed by a German specialist in investigative journalism newsroom Correctiv. The revelation raised an uproar in Germany, where the AfD’s support has hovered between 21 and 23 percent.
Scholz warned against extremism on Saturday after the far-right was criticized for trying to capitalize on farmers’ anti-government protests.
– We all lose when legal demonstrations turn into hatred or contempt for democratic methods and institutions.
Source: AFP