Tens of thousands march in Germany demanding ban on AfD

Protesters gathered in roughly twenty German cities on Saturday, staging demonstrations in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and other urban centers to call for a legal ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The coordinated rallies, organized by a coalition of left‑wing groups and civil‑rights organizations, featured banners and chants demanding that authorities prohibit the far‑right party on grounds of alleged extremist rhetoric and alleged violations of democratic principles.

Authorities reported that the demonstrations remained largely peaceful, with police monitoring the events and detaining a small number of participants for minor infractions. Legal experts note that a ban on a political party in Germany requires a constitutional court ruling, a step that has not previously been taken against the AfD. The protests underscore growing public scrutiny of the party’s platform ahead of upcoming regional elections, while government officials have reiterated that any decision to ban a party must follow established legal procedures.