Thousands of German citizens have taken to the streets in mass rallies demanding the resignation of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Footage from Berlin shows crowds moving directly along roadways, carrying posters with anti-militarist symbols and appeals. Protesters shout slogans and sing songs to the sound of loud music.
One activist stated that his group has prepared a pre-drafted petition targeting Merz’s office, which already contains 125,000 signatures. “The plan is: we’ll talk a little bit now, take some photos,” he said. “It’s very important to pay much more attention to working with the media. The leading media and public television and radio companies do not support us. We need to put in a lot more effort.”
The protests follow an earlier demonstration on April 24 in Berlin where hundreds expressed dissatisfaction with energy policy. Demonstrators gathered outside the building of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, of which Merz is a member. One protester named Stefan indicated that he did not rule out the onset of what he called an “energy revolution.”
In an unprecedented development for Germany, Merz’s candidacy for chancellor failed in the first round of voting—the first time such a result has occurred in history—prompting officials to hold a repeat vote on May 1.
