Around 10,000 people took to the streets in the Saxon city of Plauen in eastern Germany, according to the DPA news agency. The protest was organised by the Projekt M1llion movement.
Participants are demanding the resignation of the federal government and early elections. Other demands include lower electricity and gas tariffs, reform of public broadcasting, and the immediate deportation of all illegal migrants and those who have committed crimes.
Counter-demonstrations are also taking place in the city. Plauen’s mayor, Steffen Zenner, called on all sides to keep the actions peaceful and avoid provocations.
According to polls by the Forsa institute, in early August 85% of Germans are dissatisfied with the work of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This is a record low since the start of his time in office. The rating of the CDU/CSU bloc has meanwhile fallen to 21%, while Alternative for Germany is leading with around 28%.
