Extensive protests have erupted in Germany following the reports of a proposed deportation plan allegedly formulated by far-right extremists in a purportedly clandestine gathering. Among the protesters were eminent governmental figures including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The demonstration took place in the capital, Berlin, and in Potsdam, in vocal opposition to the suspected extremist scheme. Reports of the protests have circulated widely on social media platforms.
The knowledge of the alleged deportation plan came to light through CORRECTIV, an investigative news agency. According to the agency’s report, extremist outliers with connections to the controversial Alternative for Germany (AfD) party held a covert meeting in Potsdam in November 2023. The discussed strategy involved a mass deportation of immigrants, to be enacted if the party were to gain power in the upcoming regional elections in the German states of Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg – which constitute AfD’s political bastion. Martin Steller, an Austrian neo-Nazi, reportedly led the meeting while advancing the proposed deportation strategy. The AfD party’s purported racist attitudes were brought to the fore during these allegations.
In the face of this exposure, Chancellor Scholz rebutted in a post – “We must not lose sight of the big picture. In stressful times, it’s important to maintain moderation and balance. Calls for violence and threats have no place in our democracy. Compromise is part of democracy.” Activists, including systemic change advocacy group Fridays for Future, organized extensive protests in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate. While no official attendance count was given, Fridays for Future estimated the crowd to be upwards of 25,000 participants.
The AfD has made attempts to disassociate from the controversial November meeting, labeling accusations as “media raves.” In a public statement on January 11, the party justified the attendance of some members at the gathering as purely personal affiliation, disclaiming responsibility for content provided by individuals. The party, which was founded based on Euroskeptic views in 2013, has since veered further right. Encapsulation of their political views was evident in their statement in opposition to Germany’s current immigration policy, stating it leads to a loss of resources. In the last federal election in 2021, the AfD party gained third place with approximately 10 percent of the total vote.