Protests amplify fringe parties

Large, disruptive demonstrations that target small party meetings can produce outsized national attention for the targeted group, forcing heavy policing and media coverage that elevates the event beyond its base attendance. Organizers on both sides use this dynamic strategically: opponents to stigmatize or shut down, and the targeted group to claim victimhood and visibility. — Understanding this amplification effect matters for democratic governance because it changes how civil‑society tactics, policing decisions, and press coverage can unintentionally reshape political salience and electoral narratives.