Germany's Scholz pledges solidarity with migrant groups
February 5, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday welcomed demonstrations against the far right that took place in cities across Germany over the weekend as a "important signal for democracy and cohesion in society."
Speaking after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin with representatives of migrant organizations, Scholz pledged solidarity with migrant groups in light of a recently publicized scheme connected to the far-right calling for mass-deportations, or "remigration."
Scholz said people with a migrant background felt targeted when right-wing extremists "spread their inhumane ideas about resettlement."
"It is important to me to make it personally clear here in the chancellery today: We are firmly at your side," he said.
He acknowledged many people with a migrant background in Germany were living with the fear they could be targeted by right-wing extremists.
Protests against far-right
On January 10, a report by the investigative journalism group Correctiv revealed a secret meeting of business people, politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), among others, and neo-Nazis, where participants discussed a secret plan for the mass deportation of millions of immigrants.
Since then,hundreds of thousands of demonstratorshave taken to the streets of German cities in opposition to the far-right. Scholz has taken part and also regularly commented on them.
This weekend, Germany's Interior Ministry estimated that 480,000 people attended more than 120 separate events around the country. A demonstration at the Reichstag building in Berlin drew more than 150,000 people, according to police.
On Monday, Scholz said that right-wing extremism was a "threat" to German democracy.
"We will not allow right-wing extremism and intolerance to divide our society" the chancellor said. "Germany is our shared home."
wmr/msh (dpa, epd, KNA)
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