Chancellor Olaf Scholz has joined thousands of people protesting against an alleged far-right plan to deport “non-integrated” migrants from Germany.
Senior AfD politicians reportedly met with neo-Nazi activists to discuss such a proposal at a hotel near Berlin late last year.
At the meeting, the Austrian leader of the far-right Identity movement, Martin Sellner, reportedly suggested A “Immigration” project This will force “non-integrated” immigrants to leave Germany – even if they have citizenship.
The investigative portal “Correctiv” said that Roland Hartwig, personal assistant to the leader of the Alternative for Germany party, was present.
Schulz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock were in Potsdam, just outside Berlin, on Sunday, the district they represent in the German parliament.
Ms Baerbock said she was there as someone who “defends democracy and against old and new fascism”.
Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert said: “These plans remind us of the darkest chapter in German history.”
A demonstration also took place at the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital.
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The AfD, currently ranked second in national opinion polls, said it had no organizational or financial ties to last year's event.
She added that the members who were said to have attended did so in a purely personal capacity.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Potsdam
Germany holds European Parliament elections in June.
This is followed by state elections in September in three eastern regions where the AfD is strong.
The Alternative for Germany party is subject to investigations by security authorities in several German states and faces the risk of being declared an extremist organization, which could lead to it being banned.
The party denies that it is extremist or racist.
