Munich braces for massive protests during Security Conference week
Munich is preparing for a week of major protests alongside the Munich Security Conference. Around 120,000 people have registered to attend 21 demonstrations between Wednesday and Sunday. The events will cover a wide range of issues, from global conflicts to domestic concerns. The Munich Security Conference runs from February 13 to 15 at the Bayerischer Hof hotel. This year, 65 heads of state and government will attend, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The venue will operate as a high-security zone, with road closures and extra police in place.
The largest rally, organised by The Munich Circle, is scheduled for Saturday on Theresienwiese. It expects 100,000 participants. Another major demonstration against the conference itself will take place the same day between Marienplatz and Stachus, with 4,000 registered attendees. Additional protests with 3,000 participants each are planned for Odeonsplatz and Max-Joseph-Platz in front of the opera house.
The demonstrations will address diverse causes. These include protests against Iran’s leadership, war, vaccine choice, oppression in South Yemen, and opposition to right-wing extremism in Germany. Authorities warn of significant strain on resources, with some events possibly bringing parts of the city to a temporary halt. The scale of the protests and the high-profile nature of the conference will test Munich’s ability to manage large crowds. Security measures are already in place to ensure safety and minimise disruption. The demonstrations reflect a broad spectrum of political and social concerns.
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