Tens of thousands of people marched across Germany on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party won a state election by a landslide. Demonstrations took place in about 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, with estimates of around 150,000 participants. The protests were organised by Pruef, a campaign group advocating for a ban on the AfD, and supported by Campact, another civil society group.

The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt, where it secured nearly 44 percent of the vote, has raised alarm among many Germans, given the country’s historical sensitivity to far-right movements. The party, known for its anti-immigration stance and pro-Russia position, fell three seats short of an outright majority and is now seeking coalition partners to form a state government. This would mark the first time a far-right party leads a German state since the end of World War II.

Christoph Bautz, head of Campact, said the protests represented a broad cross-section of civil society determined to prevent the AfD from gaining power. "A broad cross-section of civil society is taking to the streets to prevent the enemies of the constitution … from gaining government power," he said, noting turnout estimates of about 25,000 in Hamburg and 12,000 in Munich. Police in Berlin reported several thousand additional protesters joining separate demonstrations in the capital.

The AfD held its own counter-rally in Berlin, attended by Kristin Brinker, the party’s lead candidate for the upcoming regional elections. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s state leader in Saxony-Anhalt, described the election result as historic, stating that the people had "finally want political change" and that the party had "shown that they want it with us." He has since indicated openness to working with other parties, after previously advocating for governing alone.

Calls for a formal ban on the AfD have grown, but legal challenges in Germany make such a move difficult. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has remained reluctant to pursue a ban, despite the party’s rising influence. The CDU, which won 17 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, has maintained a longstanding policy of refusing to form a government with the AfD, known as the "firewall." This policy has prevented the far-right party from joining any governing coalition at either state or national level.

The party’s growing strength has unsettled many Germans, who feel the country has a special responsibility to atone for its Nazi past. The AfD’s projected 39 seats in the state parliament have sparked concerns about the potential for a far-right government, though the party still needs a coalition partner to form a government. The situation remains unresolved, with the AfD continuing to seek alliances while facing widespread public opposition.