Hundreds of thousands of Germans protest against AfD: 'Racism and hatred are not an alternative'

(Patria) - More than 200,000 demonstrators gathered in Munich today against far-right extremism ahead of the general elections in Germany scheduled for February 23, writes Associated Press (AP), as reported by RSE.

The far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) is in second place in recent polls and has spurred widespread demonstrations across the country before the elections.

The protest at Theresienwiese in Munich, where Oktoberfest is held every year, attracted significantly more people than expected, the German news agency dpa reports.

Event organizers estimate that more than 320,000 people gathered, many of them carrying anti-AfD signs with slogans like "Racism and hatred are not an alternative".

The protest was supported by activist groups, as well as the Munich Film Festival, churches, and Munich football clubs FC Bayern and TSV 1860, among others. Police told dpa that the protests were peaceful.

Similar demonstrations attracted large crowds today in Hanover, Rostock, and elsewhere in Germany, mirroring other protests that have occurred across the country in recent weeks.

Last month, at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, a huge crowd booed, sang anti-fascist songs, and carried banners condemning the AfD.

Activists said they hoped the rally would also draw attention to other far-right parties in Europe and the new administration of US President Donald Trump.

Demonstrators have also recently opposed Friedrich Merz, the center-right leader and favorite in the upcoming elections, and his Christian Democrats, who sent proposals to parliament last month for tough new migration rules for which they received the support of the AfD.

Demonstrators say Merz and his party have broken Germany's unwritten post-Nazi promise of all democratic parties to never adopt any rule or resolution in parliament with the support of far-right, nationalist parties like the AfD.

Merz insists that his position is unchanged and that he has not and will not work with the AfD.

The AfD was founded 12 years ago and entered the national parliament in 2017, building its campaign on opposition to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow a large number of migrants into the country two years earlier.