Janice R. Andrews
Thousands of protesters gathered in Riesa, Saxony, on Saturday to oppose the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Organizers anticipated more than 10,000 participants, with groups traveling from 70 cities via over 100 buses. The demonstrations coincided with the AfD’s two-day campaign event leading up to the February 23 Bundestag election, called after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
While the protests began peacefully, some disruptions were reported, including a group blocking a highway near the event venue and plans to obstruct access to the conference site. State police described the situation as “calm” early Saturday but deployed helicopters and drones for surveillance.
The AfD is polling as the second-most popular party nationally and has significant backing in eastern Germany, particularly in Saxony. The party secured 24.6% of the vote in Saxony during the 2021 federal election and recently led in regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia. However, forming coalitions remains a challenge due to its polarizing far-right agenda.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has flagged the AfD as a “suspected” extremist organization, fueling debates and protests against its growing influence.
The demonstrations in Riesa highlight the mounting resistance to the AfD’s policies and the broader concerns about its rising prominence ahead of the federal election.
