One day before the state elections in Thuringia, the polarization became clear again: The AfD’s final rally brought thousands of people onto the streets in Erfurt – supporters and opponents of the party.
The end of the Thuringian AfD’s election campaign brought thousands of people onto the streets in Erfurt one day before the state elections in Thuringia. Around 1,300 AfD supporters came to a rally with AfD right-winger and top candidate Björn Höcke and federal chairwoman Alice Weidel on the cathedral square in the Thuringian state capital. The city’s assembly authority announced this upon request. Up to 3,000 people then protested just 100 meters from the AfD against a shift to the right and right-wing extremism in Thuringia.
The police were deployed in large numbers. According to a spokesman, they were supported by officers from Hesse, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. There were no notable incidents during either gathering.
Höcke: AfD wants to make history
Weidel told the demonstrators, who made themselves known with whistles and chants, that the AfD would “ban Antifa as a terrorist organization” if it came into government. On Sunday, the AfD could make history in Thuringia and Saxony and in a few weeks in Brandenburg if it wins the election, said Weidel. “Let’s make the East blue so that everyone can experience a blue miracle.”
AfD supporters repeatedly shouted “East, East, East Germany,” but also “deport, deport.” Höcke accused the other parties of having “lost the people.” The AfD could “make history” on Sunday.
Signal against shift to the right
The “Auf die Plätze” alliance was one of those calling for the counter demonstration. The demonstration, which was joined by more and more people, moved from the train station to the cathedral square. The demonstrators shouted “Nazis out” and “Höcke out”, among other things. According to the police, several participants in the alliance were masked. This violates the assembly law. Some of those affected removed their masks after speeches.
“We will not allow the AfD to dominate the election weekend with its extreme right-wing agitation, intimidate people and use our city as a stage for its propaganda,” the alliance declared. A week ago, thousands took to the streets in Erfurt to protest against right-wing extremism and a shift to the right.
AfD ahead in polls
The latest opinion polls in Thuringia have shown little movement in the individual parties’ ratings. The AfD was in the lead with ratings between 29 and 30 percent. The CDU, BSW and the Left followed at a distance. Around 1.66 million Thuringians are called to vote in the state elections on Sunday.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
