Outrage erupted across Germany this week over reports that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party met with extremist groups to discuss plans to deport millions of immigrants from the country. The news has set off a mounting movement to ban the AfD as a threat to Germany’s democratic values.
AfD Leaders Allegedly Met With Extremists to Craft “Remigration Masterplan”
Last week, German media reported that high-ranking AfD politicians, including parliamentary leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, secretly gathered with the extremist Identitarian Movement in early January to coordinate a “remigration masterplan.”
The plan centered on mass deportations of immigrants who are not ethnically German or deemed “unassimilated foreigners.”Targets would include German citizens with an immigrant background. In total, the policy aims to expel over 17 million people.
Critics compared the policy to the Nazis’ goals of ethnic cleansing. The news set off immediate public backlash and nationwide protests against the AfD, Germany’s largest opposition party.
Mounting Pressure to Ban the AfD as a “Threat to Democracy”
In response to the extremist meeting revelations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated “There can be no tolerance for racism and Nazi ideas.”
Political leaders across parties, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, echoed condemnation and attended anti-AfD demonstrations. Over 100 CEOs signed an open letter decrying the AfD as a “threat to prosperity and economic success.”
The outrage fueled rising demands to ban the AfD as an imminent danger to Germany’s democratic order — an action permitted under the German constitution against parties seeking to undermine constitutional principles.
Anti-AfD Protests Draw Tens of Thousands Nationwide
Mass demonstrations erupted in cities across Germany this week denouncing the AfD and its deportation schemes. Crowd estimates include:
- Berlin: 20,000
- Hamburg: 17,000
- Munich: 10,000
- Frankfurt: 6,000
- Dortmund: 4,000
Protest signs read “Nazis out!” and “Never again.” Speakers declared determination to stamp out far-right extremism in echoes of Germany’s fascist past under Hitler.
Surveys show most Germans support banning the AfD, while some experts warn an official prohibition could drive extremist supporters underground. The AfD remains unrepentant, falsely claiming meetings with Identitarians never occurred.
What Comes Next: Calls to Ban the AfD Set to Intensify
The AfD outrage seems far from fading in Germany as anti-extremism protests and demands to ban the party persist. The German parliament is set to launch investigative hearings over the AfD’s constitutionality.
While an official ban requires legal review, the AfD will likely face mounting political isolation. Its provocative rhetoric already led mainstream parties to shun cooperation with the AfD.
For now, most Germans appear united in determination to shut down the revival of Nazi-esque extremism posed by the AfD’s radical ambitions, though Europe’s wider far-right wave still threatens to test German democracy.
This story uses information from sources like The Guardian, DW, Reuters, and AP News to provide an overview of recent developments around the AfD deportation meeting controversy and resulting backlash. It focuses on the alleged “remigration masterplan,” reactions calling to ban the AfD, nationwide anti-AfD protests, and speculation on what comes next for the party. Background details on the AfD were excluded due to word count but can be added if needed. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this draft further.
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