Germans Take to the Streets to Protest Against the Advance of Ultra-Right Parties

Police stand guard opposite protesters before the start of an Alternative for Germany (AfD) conference in Essen, Germany. Photo: EFE/EPA/FABIAN STRAUCH

June 29, 2024 Hour: 4:13 pm

The Essen City Police, western Germany, have arrested several of the thousands protesting against the ultra-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and those who blocked the access to the 600 delegates trying to reach the building where the congress of the force will be held.

For this congress the authorities calculated mobilizations of up to 100,000 people who showed their rejection of AfD, which is moving towards a future electoral victory in Germany.

Essen Police have said that two officers had to be hospitalised following attacks by protestors. “Unknown assailants kicked two police officers in the head” and continued to “hit them while they were on the ground”, said North Westphalia Police, federal locality where Essen is.

VIDEO: Protesters stand off with police in Essen, Germany, where a number of gatherings have been organised to protest against the far-right AfD holding its party congress pic.twitter.com/wnZYG6X1wu
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 29, 2024

In the run-up to the regional elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg, three East German states voting in September, the party is a favourite.

“What the polls show, especially in eastern Germany, is that AfD has become an established party competing on the same level as the big parties,” according to Diederich.

“Many voters, especially in eastern Germany, are dissatisfied with the German government and the Christian Democrats”, added this expert, who considers AfD as a “strong protest party in the east but also has weight in the west.”