Bavarians march against Merkel’s allies

About 25,000 people marched in Munich yesterday to protest against the anti-immigration stance of Angela Merkel’s Bavarian allies three months before they face a tough state election.

The protest is a fresh sign of the Christian Social Union’s (CSU) waning popularity after a poll published last week put its support in Bavaria at 38 per cent, compared with 47.7 per cent five years ago.

The Infratest poll showed support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AFD) in the prosperous southern state at 12 per cent.

The AFD, which has seen its popularity soar since the 2015 migrant crisis, is expected to enter the state parliament there for the first time after elections in October.