"Hitler was also democratically elected", reads a sign of the demonstrators in Berlin. Photo: EFE.
Berlin, January 27 (RHC)-- At least 100,000 people gathered in several German cities to protest against far-right policies, exclusion and hatred, motivated by the alleged rise of the AfD party and others on the European right.
The protesters called the mobilizations "Sea of lights against the turn to the right" and gathered at the Brandenburg Gate, while in the city of Cologne, in the west of the country, at least 40,000 people gathered.
While the protests criticise the policies of the far right at home and in Europe, they also targeted the measures of the US president, Donald Trump, as well as the imminent formation of a far-right government in neighbouring Austria.
Regarding their rejection of the right-wing US president, it is worth noting that Elon Musk – whom Trump appointed to head a new state efficiency department that will be dedicated to carrying out adjustment policies – is a staunch supporter of the AfD party, which generates the opposition of thousands of Germans, and considers it “the best hope for Germany”.
The demonstrators carried banners and chanted slogans such as “We are the firewall!”, “All together against fascism!” and “Never again is now”. A broad alliance of parties, religious communities, unions, clubs and groups such as “Fridays for Future” and the “Parents against the Right” initiative participated.
In Cologne, they gathered in the city centre under the slogan “5 to 12 – strong for democracy”, referring to the alliance of groups that are mobilising. In Aschaffenburg, at least 3,000 people responded to the call of the alliance “Aschaffenburg is colourful” in the context of a murder that left two dead last Wednesday.
They also protested in Münster, Siegen, Halle, among others. Demonstrations have been announced for Sunday in Hamburg and Schweinfurt.
According to local media, the AfD party is ranked second in the polls for the upcoming legislative elections on February 23, with 20 percent of voting intentions, behind the conservative parties Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union, grouped under the name «Union», which lead with 30 percent.
The AfD is running economist Alice Weidel, who has publicly said she will continue Adolf Hitler's "legacy" and implement the Fourth Reich. She is a contradictory figure, who bases her campaign on the rejection of diversity and the promotion of the traditional family while maintaining a romantic relationship with another woman, Sri Lankan immigrant and film producer Sarah Bossard, and has adopted two children.
Her campaign has recently been called into question for having received a donation of 999,900 euros from an anonymous donor, who has subsequently been identified as Horst Jan Winter. This is a possible violation of electoral law, since donations to parties exceeding 35,000 euros must be published with the name of the donor from the outset.
Media reports say that a year ago thousands of Germans were protesting across the nation against the same far-right policies that today threaten to reach the highest government positions. Police then estimated that there were 150,000 protesters in Berlin and around 70,000 in Cologne.
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
