Germany’s far-right AfD faces off with democracy rally ahead of state vote.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Magdeburg on Saturday, as civil society groups held a “democracy festival” in the eastern German city. The event came just one day before Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, where voters will choose a new regional parliament. The rally was organized as a counterweight to a final campaign event held by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which also gathered supporters in the state capital. The AfD, known for its anti-immigration platform, is hoping for its strongest result yet in the region. Police reported no major incidents as both rallies proceeded separately. The democracy festival drew attendance from churches, unions, and local citizen initiatives, who called for tolerance and against right-wing extremism. Sunday’s vote is seen as a key test of the AfD’s momentum ahead of Germany’s federal election in September.