Demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Monday for a rally against federal government policies, with participants waving German and peace flags as they assembled near the Brandenburg Gate. Police estimated around 2,000 people had joined the protest by midday, far fewer than the 10,000 who had registered. Broadcaster AUF1 said that, according to numerous participants, the number of supporters was not as big as expected because “the police are said to have made it difficult or impossible for many arriving citizens to participate.”
Protesters called for the resignation of the federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), chanting “Merz must go.” An 11-point list of demands circulated among organizers included new elections, a new migration policy, the abolition of the CO2 tax, a pause on healthcare reforms, and the removal of the mandatory broadcasting fee, alongside calls for stronger accountability for politicians.
The rally was initiated by Marcel Baldauf from Saxony under the name “Project M1llion,” which aimed to mobilize up to one million participants and was promoted through multiple Telegram groups. Party symbols were not permitted, and many attendees instead carried national or peace flags.
A total of around 700 police officers were deployed across the capital to monitor this and other demonstrations throughout the day.
