On February 16, a significant demonstration took place in Berlin, where tens of thousands of participants rallied against potential cooperation with far-right groups. The protest was prompted by remarks from US Vice President JD Vance, who urged Germany to reconsider its traditional stance against collaborating with such parties.
According to police estimates, around 30,000 individuals attended the protest, while organizers reported the number to be approximately 38,000. Many participants carried signs with messages opposing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is anticipated to become the second-largest party in the upcoming general election on February 25.
The demonstration, themed “We are the firewall,” sought to emphasize Germany’s historical commitment to avoiding alliances with far-right factions, a principle upheld by the country’s established political parties. In a recent speech in Munich, Vice President Vance called for Germany to abandon its resistance to far-right representation in government, arguing that there should be “no room for firewalls.”
In the forthcoming election, the conservative CDU-CSU alliance, led by former chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to emerge as the largest party, with the AfD predicted to secure the second position.
