He emphasized the urgency of sending a clear signal in the lead-up to elections, vowing that a union-led government would start working immediately.
Activists involved in the protests plan to maintain momentum for future events, advocating for social justice and ecological investment, signaling resistance to the normalization of extremist rhetoric.
Evgeni Kutikow, chairman of the Jewish community in Potsdam, expressed deep concern over the vote, fearing it would strengthen extremist forces and weaken democracy.
On February 2, 2025, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Germany, driven by outrage over a controversial Bundestag vote involving the CDU, CSU, and AfD regarding migration policy.
The demonstration, organized under the slogan 'Uprising of the Decent – We are the Firewall!', aimed to oppose political alliances with the far-right AfD party, particularly in light of recent legislative attempts supported by the Union party and its candidate Friedrich Merz.
The protests serve as a crucial reminder of the vigilant civil society, aiming to encourage traditionally apathetic voters to participate in upcoming elections.
International reactions to Merz’s actions have been critical, with media from Austria and Italy expressing concerns that his approach may dismantle the political center in Germany.
Opposition leaders, including SPD's Robert Habeck, have accused Merz of breaching political norms, questioning his suitability for the chancellorship due to perceived dishonesty.
Despite the backlash, public criticism of Merz has been limited, with only a few party leaders voicing dissent, while former Chancellor Angela Merkel has also criticized his approach.
Merz remains confident that his party has not lost support from the political center, asserting that the debate surrounding migration policy was necessary for voter clarity.
During the protests, an egg thrown at police struck an officer, who was unharmed; the incident is under investigation for attempted dangerous bodily harm.
Attendees displayed signs with messages like 'Fritz, stop it, Mom' and 'It's 5 to 1933', reflecting their concerns about the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic values.
