Massive Protests Erupt in Berlin Against Far-Right Cooperation

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Over 160,000 demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against potential collaborations between the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This movement followed CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s acceptance of AfD support for a parliamentary motion aimed at tightening Germany's migration policy, a controversial move that sparked fears of an erosion of the political boundaries established post-World War II.

Participants expressed concerns about the implications of the CDU’s shift, citing former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s condemnation of the deal as a “mistake.” Protesters displayed signs and chanted slogans warning against the normalization of far-right ideologies, with some drawing historical parallels to Adolf Hitler’s rise in 1933.

Despite police estimates of 160,000 attendees, organizers claimed that up to 250,000 people participated in the march, which culminated at the CDU headquarters. Additionally, demonstrations erupted across Germany, with significant gatherings reported in cities like Hamburg and Stuttgart. Merz has stated that the failure of his proposed asylum policy reform marked a critical moment, indicating a need for electoral changes in the upcoming general elections on February 23, 2025.

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