Protests erupt in Germany amid reports of deportation plan News
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Protests erupt in Germany amid reports of deportation plan

Thousands of people, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, protested against far-right extremism in Berlin and near Potsdam against the alleged deportation plan formulated by extremists in a “secret meeting.”

The demonstrations were staged under the motto “defend democracy” following the report from CORRECTIV. This investigating new agency reported a clandestine meeting between far-right extremists and members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The meeting allegedly took place in Potsdam in November 2023 and constructed plans to deport millions of immigrants once it comes to power. This year’s regional elections are scheduled in the German states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, which are part of AfD’s heartland. The meeting was reportedly headed by Austrian neo-Nazi Martin Steller, who propounded the “deportation plan.” Further, the meeting highlighted the alleged racist attitude of the AfD party.

Following this revelation, Chancellor Scholz on January 13 said in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

We must not lose sight of the big picture. In stressful times it is important to maintain moderation and balance. Calls for violence and threats have no place in our democracy: gallows are not arguments. Compromise is part of democracy. (translated from German)

Activists, including Fridays for Future (FFF) members, staged protests in Berlin, assembling in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate. Although official figures have not been released, FFF reported an estimated attendance of 25,000. Notably, both Scholz and Baerbock participated in protests in Potsdam.

The AfD tried to distance itself from the November meeting, calling it a “media rave.” In a statement released on January 11, it said that the members attending the meeting were in their personal capacity. It added that the party is not responsible for “lecture or other content given by private individuals.” AfD was founded in 2013 based on Euroskeptic views. However, it further moved to the right since it came into existence. AfD stands against Germany’s current immigration policy, stating it leads to a loss of resources. During the last federal election in 2021, AfD ended third with around 10 percent of votes.

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