Tens of thousands gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against any potential cooperation with the far-right, following comments by US Vice-President JD Vance urging Germany to reconsider its longstanding refusal. Police estimated around 30,000 attendees, while organizers claimed the number was closer to 38,000. Protesters voiced their opposition to the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is predicted to become the second-largest party in the upcoming election. The demonstration, titled “We are the firewall,” highlighted the country’s traditional stance against collaborating with far-right groups.
Vance’s remarks in Munich challenged Germany’s political position, asserting there should be “no room for firewalls.” Many protestors, including Deutsche Bahn employee Robert Porth and pensioner Hannelore Reiner, expressed deep concern over the rise of the AfD and its potential implications. Reiner drew comparisons to the rise of fascism in the 1930s, fearing history might repeat itself. With the CDU-CSU alliance expected to win the most votes in the election, the AfD is predicted to secure around 20% of the vote, marking a significant increase in its support.
