AfD demonstration in Berlin accompanied by numerous protests

Thousands of AfD supporters responded to the call by the right-wing nationalist party on Saturday and protested loudly in Berlin against the policies of the traffic light government. According to the police, around 3,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the Reichstag building early on Saturday afternoon. Around 8,000 people took part in the subsequent protest march through the Berlin government district.

Against the rally of the AfD, which called for a different course in energy policy under the slogan "Our country first", numerous assemblies formed within hearing and sight, which were supported by other parties, trade unions, churches and civil society groups. According to the police, around 1,400 people took part in the various counter-demonstrations.

At the rally, AfD federal chairman Tino Chrupalla spoke out against a gas price brake and for the lifting of sanctions against Russia. "End this policy of sanctions," he demanded on Saturday afternoon.

"We don't have to slow down the price of gas, we have to slow down the Greens," said the AfD politician. "The gas price will return to normal if we get cheap gas from Russia." The federal government does not make politics for the citizens. "The Greens in particular want our country to become poor and weak," said Chrupalla to applause from the audience.

"Federal Minister of Economics Habeck has declared economic war on Russia," he said. In reality, Robert Habeck is waging this war against the population. Habeck had to go, demanded Chrupalla, whereupon numerous listeners heard shouts of "Habeck gone".

According to the police, around 3,000 people took part in the opening rally. The AfD had called for the nationwide demonstration under the motto "Energy security and protection against inflation - our country first". Chrupalla said the federal government is fleecing citizens and taking money out of their pockets. The German government's foreign policy is full of double standards. "Gas from the United Arab Emirates and the US is no more values-based than gas from Russia."

After the opening rally at the Republic Square, the participants started a demonstration through Berlin-Mitte. There were counter-demonstrations in several places. Among other things, the initiative "Stand up against racism" and the alliance for a cosmopolitan and tolerant Berlin had called for protests against the AfD. The organizers had accused the AfD of wanting to exploit the rising costs of food and energy for their purposes.

Because of the demonstrations, the Berlin government district was largely closed on Saturday. According to a spokeswoman, a total of 1,900 police officers were on duty. 400 police officers came to support from other federal states.