AI-generated summary
Das Bündnis reagierte mit der Demonstration auf den Wahlerfolg der AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt.
Rund 9.000 Menschen haben nach Polizeiangaben in Köln unter dem Motto «Stoppt den Rechtsextremismus in Sachsen-Anhalt und überall - Demokratie stärken!» demonstriert. Das Bündnis «Köln stellt sich quer» hatte nach dem Wahlsieg der AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt dazu aufgerufen. Es wolle den Menschen Raum geben für erste Reaktionen, Protest und Analysen, teilte das Bündnis mit.
«Denn in einer solchen Situation, wenn in Deutschland Rechtsextreme in einem Bundesland erstmals an die Macht kommen können, wollen und müssen wir Demokratinnen und Demokraten laut und deutlich unsere Stimme erheben», so das Bündnis weiter. Man demonstriere für eine stabile Brandmauer gegen die AfD - sowohl in Landesparlamenten als auch in der Zivilgesellschaft.
Es gehe um den Einsatz für die Demokratie, den Sozialstaat, die Werte des Grundgesetzes, Vielfalt und Menschenwürde - und gegen Rassismus, Antisemitismus, Hass und Gewalt sowie gegen jegliche Form der Normalisierung oder Zusammenarbeit mit der AfD.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz expresses skepticism about an AfD ban and calls for political debate. The AfD rejects his criticism of their migration plans and attacks him with accusations of 'ethnic cleansing'. CDU politicians Wüst, Rhein and Söder are also skeptical, while the SPD and Greens support an audit.
The state board of BSW Saxony-Anhalt has unanimously decided to hold talks with the AfD about energy supply, education and peace policy. This happens despite the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifying the AfD as right-wing extremist and the rejection by other parties.

After a phone call, Donald Trump sees Putin as ready for a Ukraine agreement, while Chancellor Merz remains skeptical. At the same time, Russian drone and missile attacks result in several deaths and injuries in Kiev and other cities.

After the AfD election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed skepticism about a possible party ban and emphasized that such a procedure represents a high hurdle and does not solve the underlying problem. Instead, he advocated a political debate with the AfD, while Hendrik Wüst suggested an open-ended working group from the federal and state governments to examine further dealings with the party.
Before the Lower Saxony local elections, over 2,000 people protested in Bleckede against an AfD election campaign event with Alice Weidel. The police reported that it was peaceful, although a man climbed onto the building and was then taken down by emergency services. Weidel described the AfD as a party of reason and center, announced reductions in taxes and energy prices, the return of Russian natural gas and oil and the closure of the borders. The AfD achieved a clear victory in the recent state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, but missed out on an absolute majority.
In the first TV duel between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and AfD top candidate Leif-Erik-Holm, both accused each other of harming the country. Schwesig described the AfD as a dangerous party, while Holm accused it of badmouthing the country. They argued about energy prices, nuclear power, wind power and immigration policy, with Holm defending the term “remigration”. The election will take place on September 20th.