Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Erfurt on Saturday, flooding the city with demonstrations aimed at disrupting the annual congress of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. Protesters blocked major roads and disrupted public transport, creating one of the largest civil mobilisations against the AfD in recent memory. For immigrants and expats living in Germany, the scale of these protests carries a message: a very large and vocal part of German society is actively pushing back against the politics of exclusion and anti-immigration rhetoric that the AfD represents. Understanding this moment in its full context is important for anyone building a life in Germany.
The AfD held its annual party congress in Erfurt, the capital of the eastern German state of Thuringia — a region where the party has recorded some of its strongest electoral results. As delegates gathered inside, tens of thousands of demonstrators organised by civil society groups, trade unions, and political organizations surrounded the venue and key areas of the city.
Protesters blocked roads and disrupted public transport routes, creating significant disruption across the city. Police were deployed in large numbers. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, consistent with the pattern of major anti-AfD protests seen across Germany since early 2024. Those earlier protests — some of the largest Germany had seen in decades — were triggered by reports of AfD-linked meetings where scenarios involving mass deportation of foreigners were allegedly discussed.
The scale of protest against the AfD in Germany is not coincidental. The party has made immigration restriction the centrepiece of its political programme, advocating for mass deportations, the reversal of dual citizenship reforms, and a fundamental overhaul of Germany's asylum system. As the AfD has grown into the country's second-largest political force in polling, the urgency felt by those who oppose its agenda has grown accordingly.
The protest movement draws from a wide coalition: environmentalists, trade unionists, religious communities, academics, and ordinary residents who see the AfD's rise as a threat to Germany's democratic values and its identity as a country that has welcomed millions of people from around the world. For many protesters, the demonstrations are a direct statement of solidarity with immigrants and minorities.
For foreigners living in Germany, the protests offer important context. Germany is not a monolithic society moving in one direction. The same country where the AfD wins regional elections is also a country where millions of people march in the streets to defend inclusion, diversity, and the rights of newcomers.
This does not mean there are no challenges. The political pressure the AfD generates has influenced policy decisions by mainstream parties, including tighter border controls and a more aggressive stance on deportations. The social climate in some parts of Germany — particularly in the east — can be uncomfortable for visible minorities. These are real factors that immigrants should be aware of.
At the same time, Germany's legal protections for residents remain robust, its civil society is active and vocal, and its democratic institutions are functioning. The protests in Erfurt are evidence of that.
Germany remains a country with strong legal protections for residents, regardless of their nationality. Discrimination and hate crimes do occur and should be reported — to the police, or to bodies such as the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency). The AfD's rise has changed the tone of political debate, but it has not changed the fundamental legal framework that protects your rights as a resident.
No. The AfD is currently in opposition at the federal level. Changing immigration law requires a parliamentary majority, which the AfD does not have and cannot achieve alone. However, their influence on the broader political agenda — pushing other parties to adopt tougher positions — is real and should be monitored.
Follow BAMF's official communications for updates to asylum and immigration law. Platforms like Deutschland4U summarise relevant political and legal changes in clear English. If you have specific concerns about your status, consult a qualified immigration lawyer or contact your local Ausländerbehörde.
The mass protests in Erfurt are a reminder that Germany is in the middle of an active political conversation about its identity and its relationship with immigration. For expats and immigrants, the key is to stay informed, keep documents current, and know where to turn for support. The demonstrations also serve as a reminder that you are not alone — a significant part of German society sees your presence here as a positive and worth defending.
Source: The Local
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