In a significant display of public dissent, at least 200,000 protesters rallied in Munich and other cities against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the elections. Demonstrators condemned conservative party leader Friedrich Merz for his controversial collaboration with far-right factions and called for a united front against extremist ideologies. As tension rises, Merz insists his party will maintain a strong stance against the AfD while promising stricter immigration policies. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized Merz for his approach, stating that he risks alienating the majority of voters. Protests across Germany reflect a growing unease about the normalization of far-right sentiments in politics, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to demand accountability and uphold democratic values.