Tens of Thousands Protest in Berlin Against CDU-AfD Collaboration

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin to protest against the conservative Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) recent cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The protests were sparked by CDU leader Friedrich Merz seeking AfD support for an anti-immigration bill, breaking a post-World War II unwritten agreement that prohibited collaboration with far-right parties. Following the passage of a non-binding resolution aimed at blocking undocumented migrants, critics, including the NGO Campact, expressed concerns that this could lead to a normalization of far-right politics in Germany. The protests drew support from various civil society groups, trade unions, and political factions, reflecting widespread unease about the shift in political alliances. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned that such collaborations could mirror trends seen in other countries, posing a significant threat to democratic norms. The demonstration in Berlin was part of a larger wave of protests across Germany, with over 220,000 participants reported in various cities prior to the event.