Protests in Rhineland-Palatinate: Demonstrators are fighting new migration policy!

Protests in Rhineland-Palatinate: Demonstrators are fighting new migration policy!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, a wave of protests is currently raging that mobilizes a general public. Thousands of people have already taken to the streets in cities such as Koblenz and Mainz to demonstrate against the changes in migration policy. There were also hundreds of demonstrators in Alflen, a place in the Cochem-Zell district and in Altenkirchen. The reporting of Rhein-Zeitung emphasizes that these protests in direct respond to the debate and voting in the Bundestag for migration policy are created. The demonstrations follow shortly before the upcoming Bundestag election on October 23.

On January 31, 2025, thousands of thousands went on the streets in Rhineland-Palatinate to protest the stricter migration policy, which was decided by the Union and the AfD in the Bundestag, such as Tagesschau reported. In Mainz, several thousand people gathered, the police estimated the number of participants at around 4,500. This demonstration was under the motto "Never again is now! Demonstration for heart instead of Merz".

The wave of protest at a glance

In addition, there was a protest in Landau with around 500 participants against the CDU cooperation with the AfD. In Koblenz, where between 300 and 400 people were mobilized, the motto was "against fascism, racism and human hatred". These demonstrations are part of a broad mobilization, which is supported by organizations such as "Campact" and "Fridays for Future", which are expecting tens of thousands of participants.

The political situation in Rhineland-Palatinate is further fueled by the statements of prominent politicians. Prime Minister Schweitzer (SPD) criticized CDU boss Merz and demanded the withdrawal of the draft law on migration policy. In addition, Angela Merkel (CDU) commented critically about the new cooperation between the Union and AfD and advocated a joint approach of all democratic parties.

Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann warned in this context of extreme positions in the migration debate and called for the discussion. The church president Dorothee Wüst also showed up angered about the CDU's approach and called for a human migration policy. Caritas in Rhineland-Palatinate agreed to be more careful in the debate about migrants and warns of defamation.

The CDU in Rhineland-Palatinate tried to strengthen its members by asking them not to be unsettled by the ongoing criticism. However, the pressure on the party is high, especially since an employee of the CDU state office received a death threat, which the police called on the scene.

The demonstrations that testify to a deep disappointment about the current political direction will probably continue to increase in the next few days. The struggle for human migration policy is therefore in full swing and reflects a total social excitement that can be felt not only in Rhineland-Palatinate, but also heated up discussions nationwide.