Massive Protests Sweep Germany Following Historic Far-Right AfD Election Victory

People gather in a pro-democracy and anti-far-right demonstration in front of the Rotes Rathaus city hall in Berlin, Germany, on September 12, 2026. Tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets across Germany to voice their opposition to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) following the far-right party's landslide victory in a state election.

Approximately 150,000 demonstrators participated in rallies across roughly 20 cities on Saturday, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. These demonstrations were organized by Pruef, a campaign group advocating for a ban on the AfD. Protesters held up signs featuring slogans such as “Ban the AfD now” and “Democracy needs no alternatives.”

Christoph Bautz, head of Campact—another campaign group involved in the protests—stated, “A broad cross-section of civil society is taking to the streets to prevent the enemies of the constitution … from gaining government power.” Campact estimated turnouts at about 25,000 in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich. Police reported that several thousand additional individuals participated in separate demonstrations in Berlin.

Meanwhile, the AfD hosted its own counter-rally in the German capital, which was attended by Kristin Brinker, the party’s lead candidate for Berlin’s upcoming regional election.

The widespread protests come in the wake of a stunning electoral outcome in Saxony-Anhalt, a state located in eastern Germany. On September 6, the AfD secured nearly 44 percent of the vote, placing it far ahead of the roughly 17 percent garnered by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), a party that has historically dominated German politics.

The AfD, recognized for its anti-immigration platform and amicable stance toward Russia, missed an outright majority by a narrow margin. The party is currently engaged in discussions with other political groups to explore the formation of a government. If successful, it would mark the first time a far-right party has led a German state since the conclusion of the Nazi era in 1945.

Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD state leader, described the election result as historic. Addressing supporters, he declared, “The people have made it absolutely clear that they finally want political change and, above all, they have shown that they want it with us.” Although he previously expressed a desire to govern alone, Siegmund has since indicated a willingness to collaborate with other parties.

Given Germany's history and its steadfast commitment to preventing history from repeating itself, the rising influence of the AfD has caused deep unease among many citizens. Projections indicate the party will secure 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament, leaving it three seats shy of a majority. Consequently, a coalition partner is required, though all mainstream political parties have thus far maintained a strict policy refusing to govern with the AfD, known as the “firewall.” To date, the far-right party has never participated in a governing coalition at either the state or national level in Germany.

This mounting anxiety has amplified demands for a total ban on the AfD. However, pursuing such a ban presents significant legal hurdles in Germany, and Chancellor Merz has shown reluctance to pursue that course of action.