- Multitudes rally against AfD and right-wing supporters in Erfurt
The finale of the AfD's election push in Thuringia drew thousands of individuals to the streets of Erfurt, on the eve of the state vote. Approximately 1,300 AfD supporters attended a rally on Erfurt's cathedral square, spearheaded by the AfD's far-right leader and main candidate, Bjoern Hoecke, alongside federal co-chair Alice Weidel. The city's governing body affirmed this information.
Up to 3,000 protesters rallied in opposition to a right-wing tilt and right-wing extremism in Thuringia nearby.
Alice Weidel: "Let's make the East turn blue"
Weidel, addressing the protesters who were making noise with whistles and slogans, declared that if the AfD secures power, it will ban Antifa as a "terrorist group". On Sunday, the AfD could record history in Thuringia and Saxony, and within a few weeks in Brandenburg, if it emerges victorious in the election, Weidel said. "Let's make the East turn blue, so everyone will see their blue wonder."
Supporters of the AfD constantly chanted "East, East, East Germany", as well as "deport, deport". Hoecke accused other parties of having "lost touch with the people". The AfD, he claimed, had the ability to "make history" on Sunday.
The counter-protest was coordinated by the alliance "On the squares", among others. The demonstration march, which gained momentum as more individuals joined, spanned from the train station to the cathedral square. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Nazis away" or "Hoecke out". Several participants wore masks, which is in violation of assembly law according to the police. Some of the offenders complied when addressed.
AfD is in the lead in Thuringia polls
"We will not permit the AfD to hijack the election weekend with its extreme right-wing hate speech, intimidate individuals, and exploit our city as a platform for its propaganda," the alliance said. Last week, thousands in Erfurt had already taken to the streets to oppose right-wing extremism and a right-wing shift.
The latest polls in Thuringia reveal minimal shifts in the values of the individual parties. The AfD maintains a strong lead with values ranging from 29 to 30 percent. The CDU, BSW, and the Left trail far behind. Nearly 1.66 million Thuringians are entitled to cast their votes on Sunday for the state election.
Despite the AfD's lead in Thuringia polls, with values ranging from 29 to 30%, the counter-protesters vehemently denounced their extreme right-wing rhetoric and actions, chanting slogans like "Nazis away" and "Hoecke out."
The AfD, leading in the elections with their far-right leader Bjoern Hoecke and federal co-chair Alice Weidel, has drawn both supporters and opposition to the streets of Erfurt, with the latter coordinating a protest to advocate against right-wing tilt and extremism.
