Bundestag Debates Clashes at Giessen Anti-AfD Protest, Claims of “Extremist Takeover” Emerge
BERLIN – A contentious debate erupted in the German Bundestag today following violent clashes during a large-scale protest in Giessen against the founding of a new AfD youth organization last Saturday. Lawmakers sharply disagreed over the characterization of the events, with the AfD alleging a “day of the left-wing extremist takeover of power” while other parties expressed understanding for the protests while condemning the violence.
Approximately 25,000 people demonstrated in Giessen, central Hesse, against the afd youth wing’s establishment. While largely peaceful, the demonstration saw confrontations between protestors and police, resulting in injuries to over 50 law enforcement officers, according to the Hessian state government. The “Resist” alliance,however,reported instances of excessive force used by police.
During a current hour in the Bundestag, afd MP Robin Jünger labeled Antifa a ”lawless group of thugs who use every means possible.” Fellow AfD parliamentarian Uwe Schulz asserted, “In reality, Saturday was a day when the left-wing extremists came to power in Giessen.”
Responding to the AfD’s claims, Green Party parliamentary group leader Irene Mihalic argued that “the threat to democracy did not come from those who protested outside the hall, but from those who gathered in the hall.” Frederik Bouffier of the CDU voiced understanding for the protests but cautioned that individuals resorting to street blockades and stone-throwing were ”just as extreme as the right-wing group.”
The debate underscores the deep political divisions within Germany surrounding the rise of the AfD and the increasingly fraught atmosphere surrounding its public events. The incident in Giessen is likely to fuel further discussion about the balance between freedom of assembly, security concerns, and the response to political extremism.