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00:00Shame on you, Mr Merz.
00:02That's the message these protesters have for Friedrich Merz,
00:05the man who leads the main CDU party and who could be Germany's next leader.
00:10In Munich, more than 200,000 people took to the streets,
00:14protesting against both the extreme right
00:16and what they view as Merz's attempts to gain their support.
00:20With two weeks to go before the general election,
00:23voters are not giving up.
00:25They don't want the anti-immigrant extreme right alternative for Germany
00:29or AFD party in government.
00:34I am really worried about things and I simply want to do something
00:37to stand up for a colourful coexistence,
00:39that people can live together, be happy with each other
00:42and that we don't continue to be negative and against minorities,
00:46but instead appreciate there is a diverse society
00:48and that we can also benefit from it.
00:57The massive crowds and anti-racist placards are also on display
01:01here in Bremen and other German cities.
01:03The movement has been gaining momentum ever since Merz,
01:06who had until then been the favourite in the polls,
01:09pushed through a non-binding motion on tougher immigration rules.
01:13He relied on votes from the AFD.
01:15He insisted there had been no direct collaboration
01:18with the extreme right party.
01:20Faced with mounting protests,
01:22his coalition is trying to reassure voters.
01:25At a rally in Nuremberg on Saturday,
01:27Merz reaffirmed he would not betray his country
01:30by working with the AFD.
01:34They want to find their salvation and peace on Putin's lap.
01:38That is not our policy.
01:41And for these reasons alone there will be no form of cooperation
01:45and even government participation or toleration of any form whatsoever.
01:53Despite the protests and the CDU's perceived involvement
01:56with the extreme right,
01:58it doesn't appear to have dented their chances in the upcoming election.
02:01The party are still leading in the polls.