- Demonstrations against the AfD summer festival in Altenburg
In Altenburg, around 600 people protested against an AfD summer festival on the market square, according to city officials. There were no incidents, a spokesperson said after the event. Among the speakers was Thuringian AfD top candidate Björn Höcke, who addressed about 1,000 listeners.
The protest was organized by the Action Alliance for Democracy and Solidarity in the Altenburger Land, among others, under the motto "Altenburg remains stable," with people gathering at various locations in the city center.
Just a week ago, there was reportedly loud resistance to Björn Höcke as a speaker at a similar event in the Thuringian town of Saalfeld. Höcke asked the police to maintain order, threatening to go to the local police station with 1,000 supporters if they didn't. This threat sparked sharp criticism on social media, with a video of the speech circulating online.
The Thuringian AfD is classified as securely right-wing extremist and is under observation by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution. On September 1, Thuringia will hold new state elections, with polls suggesting the AfD could become the strongest party.
The protest against the AfD summer festival in Altenburg was fueled by concerns about extremist views, as the Thuringian AfD is classified as securely right-wing extremist and under observation. The escalating tensions surrounding Björn Höcke's speeches, such as the incident in Saalfeld, further highlight the potential for extremism within the AfD.
