In early 2024,[1] widespread protests against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took place in Germany, after a report by investigative journalist group Correctiv revealed the presence of in-office party members at the meeting of right-wing extremists at Potsdam in 2023, centered on "remigration" proposals to organize mass deportations of foreign-born Germans, including those with German citizenship.

[9] AfD leader Alice Weidel defended the party, saying that she had removed those involved in the meeting, and lambasted Correctiv journalists as "left-wing activists using Stasi methods".

Among those present at the protests in Potsdam on 14 January were chancellor Olaf Scholz and Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, both members of the Bundestag from the city.

Interviewed by Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Baerbock said that the protesters were "for democracy and against old and new fascism," while Potsdam mayor Mike Schubert said that the remigration plans "are reminiscent of the darkest chapter of German history.

[17] Hamburg's mayor, Peter Tschentscher, spoke against the AfD at the protest, saying "We are the majority and we are strong, because we are united and we are determined not to let our country and our democracy be destroyed for a second time after 1945.

A planned march in Munich was cancelled for safety concerns, as 100,000 people, four times the registered amount, had arrived for the protest, according to local police.

[23] Some of Habeck's comments, however, have been publicly interpreted as expressing support for a ban as protests escalated, saying that the AfD intended to replace German democracy with a system similar to Russia under Vladimir Putin.

[166] Some observers assessed that it was unclear whether the first wave of protests had triggered changes beyond a somewhat greater awareness of politics and society of connections between the AfD and right-wing extremists.

[168] The new wave of protests, which came shortly before the federal election to be held on 23 February, was partly in response to a non-binding resolution to restrict immigration which the CDU/CSU had pushed through parliament with the help of the AfD on 29 January 2025.

[169][170] Felix Anderl, a researcher at the Center for Conflict Studies at the University of Marburg, stated in an interview in early February that in addition to the wish of people for certain things not to change so close to elections, the strategy of CDU leader Friedrich Merz was adding urgency for the protesters.

[171] The Bundestag resolution of 29 January was seen by observers as having created a tense mood that expressed itself not only through peaceful demonstrations, but also in widespread vandalism of CDU election placards, as well as occasional attacks on helpers.

In Hamburg, police gave advice to CDU on how to maintain safety at election campaign stands, stopping short of advising them to be cancelled.