{
  "id": 7006827,
  "title": "Tens of thousands protest against far-right in Germany",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-far-right-in-germany-7006827",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T22:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/09/13/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-far-right-in-germany"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany on Saturday, following their victory in a state election last week. The AfD secured the highest vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, raising concerns about the formation of an extreme-right state government in Germany since World War II. Around 150,000 demonstrators participated in over 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, organized by the group Pruef, which advocates for a ban on the AfD.\n\nChristoph Bautz, head of campaign group Campact, stated that a broad cross-section of civil society was protesting to prevent the AfD from gaining power in Saxony-Anhalt, a region with a special responsibility to atone for its Nazi past. Although calls for a formal ban on the AfD have grown, establishing such a ban in Germany poses significant challenges. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the center-right CDU party remains skeptical about taking such an approach.\n\nIn Berlin, around several thousand protesters engaged in multiple demonstrations, while the AfD held a counter-demonstration attended by Kristin Brinker, their lead candidate for the upcoming regional elections in Berlin. Campact reported approximately 25,000 demonstrators in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich.\n\nThe anti-immigration and pro-Russia party garnered nearly 44% of the votes in Saxony-Anhalt's election last Sunday, trailing behind the CDU by three seats. The AfD is actively seeking to form a state government by negotiating with other groups and lawmakers.",
  "summary": "The protests follow the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party winning a state election last week as it seeks to form the first far-right government in Germany since World War II.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Tens of thousands protest against far right in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-far-right-in-germany",
        "published": "2026-09-12T18:50:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "The far right is becoming normalised in Germany – and winning. Australia should take heed | Charlotte Feakins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/the-far-right-is-becoming-normalised-in-germany-and-winning-australia",
        "published": "2026-09-12T20:00:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Tens of thousands protest against far-right in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-far-right-in-germany-7006144",
        "published": "2026-09-12T22:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Tens of thousands march across Germany to protest far-right party AfD",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/tens-of-thousands-march-across-germany-to-protest-far-right-party-afd",
        "published": "2026-09-12T22:37:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Germany news: Thousands protest against AfD in Düsseldorf",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/germany-news-thousands-protest-against-afd-in-dusseldorf",
        "published": "2026-09-12T23:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Local Germany",
        "title": "Tens of thousands protest against far right in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/tens-of-thousands-protest-against-far-right-in-germany",
        "published": "2026-09-13T07:19:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Germany: Thousands rally against far-right after AfD victory",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/germany-thousands-rally-against-far-right-after-afd-victory",
        "published": "2026-09-13T09:41:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}