Germany Observes Wave of Protests Against Rising Far-Right Extremism
Over 1.4 million Germans recently gathered to demonstrate against right-wing extremism, following the release of a shocking report detailing a clandestine meeting of far-right figures. These protests are seen as a clear message to the entire nation that “Fascism is no Alternative.”
The Spark
The protests were sparked by a detailed scrutiny from our news source, Reader Wall. This report disclosed a secret meeting conducted in a hotel on the outskirts of Berlin. Attendants of this meeting, including members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), neo-Nazis, and other far-right figures, allegedly prepared a ‘masterplan for remigration’, aimed at the removal of asylum seekers, ‘non-assimilated’ people, and individuals holding legal residency rights and citizenships with ‘non-German’ roots. This meeting also saw the participation of two members from the leading German opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Our report revealed that not only were forced deportations discussed in this meeting, but also the manner in which the AfD would implement these policies if it came to power.
Reactions
For Pradnya Bivalkar, a professional in international relations, the findings were not shocking, but the directness of the conversation was. Richard K., a protest participant from Thuringia, was at the protest to emphasize that not everybody from his state supports the AfD. Two elderly women holding the placard “Omas Gegen Rechts” (Grandmothers against the Right) expressed their shock at the revelations of the ‘remigration’ plans.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also lent their support to the demonstrations and shared their gratitude for the large number of people protesting against right-wing extremism. They underlined that the main reason for the mass movement was to take a stand against the far right in Germany.
Protests and Future Sustainability
Protests have been occurring daily since January 15 and are anticipated to continue till the end of the month. However, the key challenge is the organization of large-scale protests in smaller cities to ensure the movement’s sustainability.
The current momentum of the protests is likely to endure for a few more weeks, with larger surges anticipated before the European elections in May and the three states’ polling in September.
AfD’s Defense and Call for Ban
According to the AfD, the gathering was private and had no party connection. Multiple politicians, however, are calling for investigations to determine whether or not the AfD should be banned following the revelations.
Despite this, banning the AfD is far from straightforward. Theoretically, while under consideration, implementing a ban would take years to justify and come into effect, warns our analyst Daniel Saldivia Gonzatti.
Voices on Ground
While there’s widespread shock and worry, simultaneous heartening views of people standing against extremist views are also being observed. Ultimately, it’s upto the German population to ensure that the pressure against far-right extremism stays on the surface. This will decide if the passionate protests will translate into electoral success or political decisions or not.
