Germany's Far-Right AfD Party on the Rise

Thousands Protest Against Far-Right Party

AfD Poised for Strong Showing in European Elections

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Germany on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is poised for a strong showing in the upcoming European elections.

The demonstrations, which took place in towns and cities across the country, were sparked by a report that the AfD had held a secret meeting to discuss plans to deport millions of immigrants from Germany.

The AfD, which has been accused of racism and xenophobia, has seen its popularity surge in recent years, particularly in eastern Germany. The party is now the second-largest party in the German parliament and is expected to win a significant number of seats in the European Parliament in the elections on May 26.

The protests against the AfD were organized by a coalition of groups, including trade unions, civil rights organizations, and political parties. The demonstrators carried signs that read "No to racism" and "AfD out." They also chanted slogans such as "We are all here to fight fascism" and "We will not be divided."

The protests were largely peaceful, but there were some reports of violence. In Berlin, police used water cannons to disperse a group of protesters who tried to storm the Reichstag building, the German parliament.

The protests against the AfD are a sign of the growing concern about the rise of far-right parties in Europe. In recent months, far-right parties have made gains in elections in France, Austria, and Italy.

The AfD's success in Germany is particularly worrying because of its Nazi past. The party has been accused of downplaying the Holocaust and of using Nazi symbols and rhetoric.

The protests against the AfD show that there is still strong opposition to far-right extremism in Germany. However, the AfD's continued rise is a reminder that the threat of fascism is never far away.