AfD campaign stand in Göttingen sparks protests and police deployment

On July 25 2026 the AfD set up a campaign stand at the Gänseliesel fountain in Göttingen, Germany. The location prompted a counter‑demonstration of dozens of left‑wing activists, including Antifa, “Omas gegen Rechts”, members of the Greens and other groups. Protesters surrounded the stand, displayed banners and shouted slogans, while the police deployed a hundred officers to protect the AfD members and prevent attacks.

The confrontation led to several physical clashes between activists and police. Some left‑wing participants demanded that the Federal Constitutional Court examine a possible ban on the AfD. The incident also drew political attention: only two of the 573 candidates standing in the upcoming municipal elections are from the AfD, a party classified by the Lower Saxony domestic‑security office as “securely right‑extremist”. A Green state parliament member announced she would inquire why the AfD was allowed to place its stand at the historic Gänseliesel site.