Various left and right initiatives are taking to the streets of Leipzig to express their anger at rising energy prices. Several thousand participants were expected, he writes Der Tagesspiegel.

More than seven rallies and demonstrations in the center of Leipzig on Monday night. Even for the Leipzig police, who are used to dealing with large-scale situations, this does not happen every day.

Authorities say they are prepared for a “potentially dynamic situation.” Due to the various participants and organizers of the protests, a confusing situation was expected, especially in the center of Augustusplatz.

Here, the party “Die Linke” wanted to start the so-called “hot autumn” with a large-scale rally under the slogan “Lower prices – energy and products must be affordable”, around 19:00. For weeks, the party mobilized its electorate across the country and hoped for nationwide social protests against rising electricity, gas and food prices.

Right-wing extremists also want to participate / Putin sympathizers

At the same time, the far-right group “Freie Sachsen” (Free Saxony) has been calling on its supporters to participate in protests for several days. The idea is to create an image of a cross-front that stands together against the current policies of the government, regardless of the political environment.

Through Telegram, the right-wing radicals tried to hint to their fans that the left and the right would speak together at the rally.

The party leadership issued a call for mobilization, which mentioned as speakers the names of left-wing politicians Gizi and Pehlmann, as well as well-known right-wing extremists such as Jürgen Elsasser, editor-in-chief of the magazine KOMPACT, which is monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

If a joint rally has not yet taken place, the “Free Saxons” have announced a parallel protest also on Augustusplatz.

Founded in 2021, Freie Sachsen promotes a movement that rejects pandemic measures and conspiracy theories.

For “Freie Sachsen”, NATO is part of a global conspiracy that would contribute to the outbreak of war. It is obvious for this organization that it considers itself – ideologically – a partner of Putin. I would say the same goes for the entire conspiracy theorist scene, writes Deutsche Welle.