How is Germany responding to the far-right?
Large numbers of people have taken to the streets across Germany to protest against the far-right and its most prominent representative, Alternative for Germany (AfD). The protests were sparked by media reports about a secret plan involving some AfD members that talked about mass deportations of millions of migrants and German citizens based on criteria that echoed policies from Nazi times. While some are calling for the AfD to be banned, the party is still doing well in opinion polls. Nationwide surveys show that about one in five Germans would vote for it and the AfD is projected to come first in elections in three eastern states later this year.
The story of how Germany got here starts with Eurosceptics establishing a fringe party critical of the EU and common currency back in 2013. However, when hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees arrived in Europe, the focus shifted towards opposition to migration as an issue. One leading figure behind this shift was Bejn Hooker — a man who during street protests closed ranks with neo-Nazis and railed against Holocaust remembrance and Berlin’s Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. He heads up the far-right wing within AfD which gradually gained more power within the party over time.
In recent years, Islamophobic language has become commonplace within AfD rhetoric as they exploit each new crisis or uncertainty to broaden their voter base. For example, when COVID-19 hit they became known as a go-to party for conspiracy theorists while after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine they fuelled fears over rising energy costs.
One concept gaining attention among far-right groups is “remigration”. This term refers originally describes voluntary return but has been co-opted by far-right groups using it callously such as arbitrary revocations citizenships or indiscriminate mass deportations.
A secret plan uncovered by investigative Newsroom Corrective revealed an AFD meeting where wealthy donors met covertly with neo-Nazis discussing forceful deportations based on racist criteria ordered shockwaves throughout Germany earlier this year.
Society’s response can be seen through three main ways; firstly there are large scale public displays like those seen recently contradicting AFD claims that they represent silent majority views or share their opinions at all really.
Secondly legal action could potentially be used if necessary such as cutting funding or banning key figures like Hooker from politics themselves due threats posed democracy though these options require careful legal evaluations because according critics trying so will only play into hands portraying them political victims rather than achieving desired outcome.
Finally other major parties have insisted not collaborating with AFD but strategy showing cracks local level sometimes pass legislation them support however experts recommend resisting accommodation rejecting collaborations focusing isolating without addressing concerns voters feeling left behind forgotten etcetera real issues affecting people today since inception decade ago taking increasingly radical turn approach paid off opinion polls still projected achieve record results Eastern States latest revelations may prove turning point protesters hope change direction before too late.
