The nationwide protests against the far-right Alternative for Germany(AfD) yesterday began their fourth week with around 200,000 people flooding the streets in Germany, mainly in Berlin and other cities like Mainz, Dresden, and Hanover, all showing grave concern regarding the increasing support for the party, according to Reuters.

Under the slogan "We are the Firewall," roughly 150,000 people gathered around the Reichstag parliament building in Berlin protesting against right-wing extremism and advocating for democracy.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X: "Whether in Eisenach, Homburg or Berlin: in small and large cities across the country, many citizens are coming together to demonstrate against forgetting, against hatred and hate speech," adding that the protest constituted "a strong sign in favor of democracy and our constitution."

Ob in Eisenach, Homburg oder Berlin: In kleinen und großen Städten im ganzen Land kommen viele Bürgerinnen und Bürger zusammen, um gegen das Vergessen, gegen Hass und Hetze zu demonstrieren - auch an diesem Wochenende. Ein starkes Zeichen für die Demokratie und unser Grundgesetz.

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 3, 2024

Even though recent polls have shown a slight decrease in AfD support, its success has raised great concern among Germany's mainstream parties, dreading the possibility of the party dominating three state elections in Eastern Germany in September.

Jakob Springfield, speaking for the NGO Solidarity Network Saxony, expressed surprise at how long it took for mass demonstrations against the far-right to be initiated, as the AfD had been successful in many smaller communities already. However, he stated, "But there's a jolt now. And the fact that the jolt is coming provides hope I believe."

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A Forsa poll released earlier this week indicated that support for the AfD dropped below 20% for the first time since July, with voters referring to the nationwide demonstrations against the far-right as the most important reason. The poll further showed that the AfD is still in second place following main opposition conservatives at 32% and, at the same time, overturning Scholz's center-left Social Democrats who polled at 15%.

Even though the AfD stated that the meeting held last month by two of its seniors discussing plans for mass deportation of foreign citizens does not resemble its policy, a series of protests were still triggered in opposition to the party.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla informed broadcaster Deutschlanfunk that while it was "legitimate to take to the streets with the government," protesters should not "allow themselves to be used" to distract parties from the country's actual problems," adding that Germans with a migrant background are part of Germany and his party has no intent of expelling them.

Scholz: AfD is a demolition squad for Germany

Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in German cities on January 27 to condemn the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Approximately 100,000 demonstrators gathered in Dusseldorf under the motto "We will not remain silent against AfD" to condemn what they described as "xenophobia, racial discrimination, and right-wing extremism in Germany."

Protesters carried flags decrying racism and yelled slogans against the AfD, and politicians from all parties joined and supported the march in Aachen, near the Dutch border.

In Kiel, police reported nearly 11,500 people attending a demonstration planned against the AfD.

"Most citizens know that the self-called 'Alternative' is, in reality, a demolition commando -- a demolition squad for our country," Scholz told parliament at the start of budget debate week, while also expressing concern about the AfD's advocacy for a return to nationalism.