Planned AfD event in Hugenottenhalle, Neu-Isenburg sparks demonstrations
In the city of Neu-Isenburg, Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is set to hold an election event at the Hugenottenhalle on February 1st. However, the event has sparked significant opposition and counter-protests, reflecting the widespread resistance the far-right party encounters in much of Germany due to its extremist associations and the threat it poses to the democratic order.
The AfD, initially founded in 2013 as a protest movement against euro currency policies and European integration, has evolved into a broader right-wing populist and nationalist party. Its political stance includes opposition to immigration, skepticism or hostility toward the EU, anti-left rhetoric, and a nationalist conception of German identity. The party has been classified by the intelligence agency of Brandenburg state as a "proven right-wing extremist" organization pursuing anti-democratic, xenophobic, and racist goals.
The AfD's electoral success, reaching over 10 million votes in 2025 and achieving strongholds in eastern German states, contrasts sharply with the political and civil resistance it provokes across Germany. The rental of the Hugenottenhalle to the AfD is legally binding according to the city of Neu-Isenburg, and the city is bound by the neutrality requirement when allocating communal facilities. However, the city cannot exclude parties from using these facilities based on their political content, as long as there are no legally justified reasons for refusal.
Mayor Hagelstein has emphasized that the rental does not constitute support or endorsement of the political positions of the AfD, but rather upholds democratic rules. The city is coordinating with the police and other authorities to ensure public safety during the AfD event and the planned counter-protests.
An initiative has registered a demonstration and rally against the AfD election event. The OMAS GEGEN RECHTS, a group consisting of members from various cities, supports this protest. Many citizens are critical of the decision to rent the Hugenottenhalle for the AfD event, and the planned protests underscore the resistance of many people in the region to the political orientation of the AfD.
After the event, the city of Neu-Isenburg will evaluate the course and impact on local affairs to ensure compliance with the rule of law and security requirements. The evaluation is intended to ensure that the implementation is in line with democratic principles. Alice Weidel, Chancellor candidate of the AfD, is expected to attend the event. The counter-protests, emphasizing anti-fascist messages and the defense of democratic values, are set to take place alongside the AfD event.
- The opposition to the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany extends beyond politics, with various groups organizing counter-protests, such as OMAS GEGEN RECHTS, against the AfD's migration policies.
- The evolution of the AfD from a protest movement against euro currency policies to a right-wing populist and nationalist party has led to accusations of xenophobia and racism, which are fueling war-and-conflicts debates and general-news discussions.
- The city's rental of the Hugenottenhalle to the AfD for an election event has become a matter of crime-and-justice interest, as some citizens question the city's decision, citing the AfD's alleged anti-democratic, extremist associations.
- The AfD's focus on immigration and anti-left rhetoric has raised concerns about policy-and-legislation changes, particularly in the context of busy election seasons, where car-accidents and fires might disrupt rallies and protests.
- As the AfD event approaches, citizens are closely monitoring political developments, noting the juxtaposition of the AfD's nationalist conception of German identity against the democratic principles they are sworn to uphold, sparking debates in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation.
