Höcke’s AfD campaign appearance in Stralsund draws larger counterprotest

Björn Höcke’s campaign appearance in Stralsund drew a much larger counterprotest than expected. Police said about 2,000 people took part at the peak, while roughly 550 attended the AfD event on the Hansa-Wiese.

Organizers and demonstrators remained separated by police lines and barriers, with some standing in heavy rain. Police deployed a substantial presence and said no offenses had been reported by the end of the AfD rally. Officers planned to stay into the night to prevent clashes as both groups traveled home.

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We can build a peace mode with Russia.

The appearance marked Höcke’s second consecutive campaign stop in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, following a speech in Neubrandenburg the previous evening. He was supporting the state AfD ahead of the Sept. 20 election, where the party leads the governing Social Democrats in opinion polls.

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We must build bridges to Russia. Russia and Germany must become partners.

Höcke devoted much of his speech to migration and demanded a more restrictive asylum policy, presenting Denmark’s approach as a model. He also called for a different policy toward Russia. "We can build a peace mode with Russia," he said. "We must build bridges to Russia. Russia and Germany must become partners."

Germany supports Ukraine with financial aid and weapons and participates in sanctions against Russia. Höcke criticized the government’s attribution of an alleged explosive-drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport to Russia, saying a state was being publicly condemned "without having evidence." Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attribution rested on police investigative findings, attack patterns and intelligence information. Counterprotesters expressed their opposition with whistles and boos.

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without having evidence