The man likely to lead Germany's next government says there would be no cooperation with the far-right AfD. Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc has faced flak after accepting AfD support on legislation.

Around 160,000 gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, next to the Bundestag lower house, according to the Berlin police. The protesters held banners reading ‘We are the firewall, no cooperation with the AfD’ and ‘Merz,

Thousands gathered in Berlin on Sunday to oppose a controversial immigration bill backed by opposition conservatives and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The proposal, led by Friedrich Merz of the CDU/CSU,

Protests have erupted across Germany in the wake of two contentious parliamentary votes on immigration, with marchers venting anger at the conservative bloc for breaking the taboo on collaborating with the far-right AfD.

The AfD party is polling at about 20% before Germany's February 23 elections, a record for a party. The mainstream conservative CDU/CSU alliance leads with about 30%.

In Germany, protests are ongoing against the joint voting by CDU/CSU and Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag regarding stricter migration policies. In Berlin, 160,000 people participated in Sunday's demonstration,

The rally in the German capital comes in the wake of the conservative CDU/CSU leaning on the support of the far-right AfD in parliament to push through a migration bill. Protesters chanted "Shame on you CDU.