Berlin, July 5, 2026 – The Europe Today: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Germany on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, calling for the protection of democracy and opposing what demonstrators described as the party’s growing influence in national politics.
The nationwide demonstrations were organised by civil society groups under the slogan “No More Excuses – Ban the AfD Now”, with major rallies held in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig, and several other cities. Organisers urged the German government and constitutional institutions to consider initiating legal proceedings aimed at banning the AfD, arguing that the party poses a threat to Germany’s democratic order. The AfD has rejected such accusations and maintains that it operates within the country’s constitutional framework.
According to organisers, more than 100,000 people participated in demonstrations nationwide, although police estimates were generally lower in several locations. Protesters carried banners advocating democracy, tolerance, and diversity, while expressing concern over the rise of far-right extremism and hate speech.
The demonstrations come amid an ongoing national debate over whether the AfD should face legal action under Germany’s constitution. Earlier this year, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classified the party as a confirmed right-wing extremist organisation, a designation that has intensified calls from some political leaders and civil society organisations for a constitutional ban. The AfD has challenged the classification through legal proceedings and denies accusations of extremism.
German law allows the Federal Constitutional Court to prohibit political parties found to be seeking to undermine or abolish the country’s free democratic basic order. However, legal experts note that the threshold for such a ban is exceptionally high, and previous attempts to outlaw political parties have been rare.
Saturday’s protests reflected growing public engagement in the debate over the future of Germany’s democratic institutions, with demonstrators calling for continued vigilance against extremism while authorities evaluate the legal and constitutional implications of any potential action against the AfD.
