Tens of thousands across Germany protest AfD after landslide state result

# What happened Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany on September 12 in protests against the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Organisers said around 150,000 people rallied in roughly 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, demanding the party be banned and kept out of government.

# Why people marched The demonstrations came after the AfD's strong result in the Saxony‑Anhalt state election on September 6, where it won nearly 44 percent of the vote. That outcome put the AfD well ahead of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which took about 17 percent, and left the AfD projected to hold 39 of 83 seats in the state parliament—three short of an outright majority. The result raised the prospect that the AfD could enter government if it reaches a coalition agreement.

# How big were the protests Organisers and campaign groups reported large turnouts. The campaign group Pruef organised the rallies nationwide, and Campact, another group involved, put attendance at about 25,000 in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich. Police estimated several thousand people joined separate demonstrations in Berlin. Protesters carried signs such as "Ban the AfD now" and "Democracy needs no alternatives."

# Political context and responses The AfD is known for its anti‑immigration stance and a posture described as friendly toward Russia. Its state leader in Saxony‑Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, called the result historic and said voters clearly want political change and support the AfD. He has indicated openness to working with other parties, after earlier saying he preferred to govern alone.

# Counter‑protests and political tensions The AfD held a counter‑rally in Berlin attended by Kristin Brinker, the party's lead candidate for Berlin's upcoming regional election. The competing demonstrations show how polarised the public response has become since the Saxony‑Anhalt vote. Many Germans cited the country's history and its constitutional commitments when arguing against allowing a far‑right party to take power.

# What to watch next

• Coalition talks in Saxony‑Anhalt: the AfD is projected to fall three seats short of a majority and needs a partner to govern. Which parties, if any, will engage is a central question.
• Legal debate over banning the AfD: pressure for a ban is growing, but legal hurdles and political reluctance at the federal level make that an uncertain path.
• Regional elections: the AfD's performance has raised stakes for other upcoming state ballots, where turnout and voter shifts could reshape local governments.

The protests on September 12 reflected broad civic mobilisation against the AfD in numerous cities, and they came amid a national debate about how to respond politically and legally to the party's electoral gains.