On July 20, 2025, protesters in Berlin disrupted a live interview with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right and pro-Russian party Alternative for Germany (AfD), during a broadcast on the ARD channel. The interview took place outdoors near the Spree river in the government district, where demonstrators on the opposite bank used whistles, loud music, and chants against AfD’s political agenda. The crowd of around 40 people repeatedly shouted “AfD is shit” interrupting the broadcast.
Protesters clash with police after unregistered demonstration
During the interview, Weidel expressed confusion over the questions but insisted on continuing, urging the moderator to proceed. Police intervened to end the protest and later initiated proceedings against a 64-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man for public order violations, as the protest had not been registered. The ARD network is now considering rerunning the interview in a controlled studio environment.
CDU official criticizes protest tactics and AfD’s political stance
Carsten Linnemann, general secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), condemned the disruption, arguing that such protests strengthen AfD’s position. He stressed the importance of confronting the party’s ideology rather than creating noise. Linnemann accused Weidel of reveling in negative news and economic decline during the interview. Commenting on the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) preparations to ban AfD, he noted that millions of AfD voters would not disappear overnight and called debates about banning the party “unproductive” and distracting from essential discussions.
AfD seen as a threat to Germany’s democracy and European stability
AfD is widely viewed not just as opposition but as a party capable of undermining liberal democracy from within, posing risks to Germany’s internal security and constitutional order. The party’s leaders have repeatedly called for lifting sanctions on Russia, raising doubts about European solidarity and efforts to deter aggression. Allegations have surfaced between 2024 and 2025 about financing some AfD deputies through proxy entities linked to Russia and China.
Links to Russian influence and extremist activity raise alarms
The rhetoric of AfD is tied to xenophobia and violence, contributing to a rise in hate crimes and attacks against refugees and immigrants in Germany. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies AfD as a suspected extremist organization. The party’s pro-Russian reputation has made it a tool of Kremlin hybrid influence in the EU, threatening unity by opposing integration efforts, NATO, and common foreign policies, including those on migration and Ukraine.
AfD’s engagement with Russia intensifies political tensions
Members of AfD have met with Russian officials, visited Crimea, Donetsk, and Moscow, showing support for the Kremlin even amid the full-scale war. Some party figures have referred to Ukraine as an “artificial entity” or a “buffer zone between Russia and NATO,” undermining Ukrainian sovereignty. AfD’s political success in Germany risks triggering a domino effect across EU countries, weakening collective support for Ukraine and threatening the broader European consensus.
The incident highlights the continuing tension around AfD’s role in German and European politics, as well as the challenges posed by far-right parties with foreign ties.
