Thousands of citizens, around 6,000 according to local press estimates, have gathered this Saturday in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, to participate in the Festival for Democracy, in a context where the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the main contender to achieve an absolute majority in the regional elections this Sunday.
In light of the fear of the formation of an extreme right government, various festivals for democracy have been promoted throughout the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, with the central event in the square of the Magdeburg cathedral. The police have reported that up to 26 demonstrations have been registered for this weekend.
The festival, which includes several concerts and will last until late at night, has focused on the diversity of the state after a march that started from the central station of Magdeburg to the Cathedral square. The event is driven by the coalition Saxony-Anhalt Open to the World, which has highlighted that they have been preparing these mobilizations for six months.
At the same time, a "patriotic" gathering has been held in Magdeburg on Breiter Weg avenue, the main commercial artery of the city, with the presence of several dozen attendees. At this gathering, flags of Germany, vehicles decorated with the national emblem, and banners with the slogan "Car March for Peace" have been displayed.
To ensure safety, the police have deployed hundreds of agents with reinforcements from other neighboring states. The operation includes around 1,500 riot police and water cannons.
The latest poll released by the German public television ARD places AfD in the lead with 42% support, followed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU, 22%), The Left (11%), the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD, 8%), The Greens (6%), Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW, 4%), and the Free Democratic Party (FDP, 3%).