Germany · de.indymedia · · 51m
Week 37: The week in which we overcome perplexity
Deutsch (original) · Auto-translated to English
The 37th calendar week is coming to an end. We have published 9 new texts with a total of 51,637 characters. Welcome to the weekly review of network politics.
Dear readers,
Now we have reached the point that I could never have imagined when I was young: a right-wing extremist party is about to take over a German state government. It's that time again for the first time since 1945. And the “Never again!” seems a call from a better past, whose humanitarian promise we may no longer be able to keep. That's bitter.
Our democracy is in grave danger. The pressing questions that have accompanied me this week are: How can we stop the takeover of power by right-wing radicals, right-wing extremists and Nazis? What's next? What else helps now?
Unfortunately, I see perplexed and questioning faces everywhere instead of combative and hopeful faces.
Another question is what demos actually bring now. They bring something: At a demonstration, tens of thousands of us democrats and anti-fascists can make sure that there are many of us, that we are there, that we are damn good, nice, benevolent people. We need this connection with others because it gives us courage. So therehttps://netzpolitik.org/2026/nach-wahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-mehr-als-30-dem...the demos!At least 30 are planned nationwide this weekend alone.
But this form of self-assurance is not enough.
Because a “demo for democracy” or a “colorful instead of brown” will achieve little if we don’t also have clear demands. It will only be of any use if we know what and who this democracy is actually supposed to stand for. A democracy needs ideas, content and programs that point towards a shared future.
Only 13 percent of the population are satisfied with the current federal government. That means:https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/vertraut-regierung-umfrag...9 out of 10 people are dissatisfied with the federal government. So not just those who vote for right-wing radicals, but also almost everyone with whom we want to take to the streets against right-wing extremists and defend democracy. So something has to happen.
New faces, new wind, new program
What is needed is a federal government that takes people along and offers them something. What we can least use right now is a policy of exclusion and surveillance, social cuts and even more upward redistribution.
It's not like there aren't any ideas: 81 percent of the population across all parties support ithttps://www1.wdr.de/politik/ard-umfrage-wie-just-ist-wohlstand-vertei...Prosperity in this country is considered unfairly distributed. That's 8 out of 10 people. The federal government does nothing for this overwhelming majority. What sticks instead are the criticism of “part-time lifestyle”, accusations of laziness or plans to have to present a medical certificate from the first day of illness. That's not the way to govern, that's how you lose people. Across all political camps.
Quite honestly: I think we need a bold, let's-turn-around-the-rudder program right now that offers something in terms of social policy from which the vast majority will benefit visibly and noticeably through redistribution. A signal of departure with new faces, a new wind and a new program. When people notice that something is happening for social security, for affordable housing, for a future worth living despite the climate crisis, then they better fight for democracy. Because “democracy” is no longer an empty phrase, but a promise.
Such a policy will strengthen democrats of all stripes and mobilize them - this is the only way we can now block the path of the brown gravediggers of democracy. Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, across party lines – it is possible.
Fighting greetings
Markus Reuter
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Meta surveillance glasses: Data protection authority warns of significant risks
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Investment obligation for streaming services: EU Commission puts obstacles in Weimer's way
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Grandmas against the right: "We'll carry on. There is no other option."
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