L'AfD apre la campagna per le elezioni di Berlino al Municipio Rosso mentre le contro-proteste radunano centinaia di persone

Attacchi duri contro Wegner e la CDU

Brinker cast the political mistakes of recent years as no longer forgivable and called Wegner 'the parade example of this decline - politically as well as personally.' 'Die politischen Fehler der vergangenen Jahre sind nicht mehr verzeihlich,' she declared. She added that the CDU 'can simply not do it' ('Sie können es einfach nicht') and pledged that the AfD would achieve a 'blue turning point' ('Wir werden die blaue Wende schaffen').

On domestic policy, Brinker said criminals without German citizenship should leave the country as quickly as possible and criticized the CDU for announcing much but implementing little. She pointed to economic policy and to the number of naturalizations, which she characterized as far too high. On internal security, she cited knife attacks and gun-related violent crimes in Berlin and called for an end to long court waiting times and 'coddling justice' ('Schluss mit den langen Wartezeiten vor Gericht, Schluss mit der Kuscheljustiz').

AfD federal chairman Tino Chrupalla endorsed Brinker's candidacy at the rally, saying 'Kristin Brinker ist die beste Frau, die wir hier in Berlin haben können.' He also called for Wegner to retire and said the AfD would make the Red Town Hall 'blue' for the first time: 'Wir werden dieses Rotes Rathaus zum ersten Mal blau machen.'

Sondaggi e contesto elettorale

AfD lead candidate from Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund told the crowd that the AfD would make history in 2026, including in Berlin. 'Wenn wir es schaffen, dass die AfD hier in dieser Stadt stärkste Kraft wird, dann sage ich, schaffen wir es überall,' Siegmund said. Brinker struck a similar note, declaring: 'Hier in Berlin wollen wir auch stärkste Kraft werden - und wir schaffen das.'

Recent polls place the AfD at 17 to 18 percent in Berlin, partly running second behind the CDU, which led with 19 to 22 percent, and ahead of the Greens, the Left, and the SPD. In the 2023 Berlin House of Representatives election, the AfD received 9.1 percent of the vote. The next Berlin state election is scheduled for September 20.

The rally and counter-protests passed without major incident, according to police. Multiple further counter-demonstrations had been registered in connection with the campaign kickoff, underscoring the contested political atmosphere surrounding the AfD's start to its Berlin campaign.

The article is sourced from the dpa news channel (dpa:260629-930-306430/1).