Right-wing violence, empty coffers: East German civil society under pressure

dossier

"In federal politics, there is still great horror at the AfD's success in the federal election. (...) "Zwickau, Chemnitz, Zittau - I would speak of extreme right-wing attempts to dominate," says the expert [Heike Radvan, professor of right-wing extremism research] for Saxony. The social dynamic aims to restrict public space for all people who do not fit into a right-wing worldview, for example through the dominant appearance of AfD representatives in the local parliament - and through threats and violence. (…) Examples of [the] AfD strategy are the attacks on the federal program “Living Democracy” of the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, which promotes civil society initiatives and associations that are committed to democracy and against extremism…”  Article by Elisa Pfleger in the “Blättern” 4/2025 and more about it:

• Over 250 pages of legal expertise against authoritarian pressure: The “Law Solidarity” project offers legal orientation for civil society from September 15, 2026
  “Over 250 pages of legal expertise against authoritarian pressure: “Recht Solidarisch” starts in Saxony-Anhalt. New platform shows what can be announced politically - and what is actually legally permissible.
  After the election evening in Saxony-Anhalt, it is not yet clear what will happen politically on site. But the fear and concerns expressed by civil society, migrant communities, queer associations, but also by critical activists should be taken seriously. In any scenario, the extreme right will increase the pressure on these same groups. For this reason, the Republican Lawyers' Association e.V., the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, the Left Party Chairmen's Conference and Equal Rights Beyond Borders started a project months ago called Law Solidarity and which is intended to offer legal orientation from September 15, 2026.
  Dr. Lukas Theune, managing director of the RAV, explains: "With the Law Solidarity project, we provide civil society with two necessary things in order to remain able to act despite the challenges of the authoritarian turn: legal knowledge and allies. The homepage offers both concrete legal information and an overview of contact points."
  About the project: What if the law comes under pressure?
  When right-wing authoritarian forces rule, human rights, progressive forces, migrants and refugees come under pressure, as do civil society, culture and science. What else is allowed then? How are opportunities for participation changing and how can those affected defend themselves legally?
  Law Solidarity creates orientation: We examine authoritarian measures legally, offer legal assessments of them, and show options for action, resources and contact points…”Press release from RAV from September 15, 2026 to the project of the RAV, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, the Left Party Chairmen's Conference and Equal Rights Beyond Bordershttps://www.recht-solidarisch.de/ 
• [“Together for Democracy”] Money for victims of right-wing extremism: trade unions, churches and human rights organizations agree on concrete support
  "More than 80 civil society organizations want to organize direct support for people and initiatives affected by right-wing extremism. The alliance "Together for Democracy" presented a solidarity agreement for this purpose on Thursday in Berlin. The representatives describe the association as an "unusual, highly committed coalition." The alliance brings together trade unions, human rights, social and environmental associations such as Greenpeace, the Queer Diversity Association (LSVD+), the Federal Conference of Migrant Organizations (BKMO) and church organizations. The alliance is responding to increasing right-wing attacks, threats and agitation against committed people and political places. The extreme right is relying on exclusion, discrimination and hatred. Specifically, the alliance wants to coordinate statements and campaigns together in the future, and organize legal assistance for those affected or financial aid. According to Yasmin Fahimi, the chair of the DGB, trade unions are currently in the focus of fascist movements On so-called enemy lists and during actions on the street, trade unions experience attacks and hostility (…) A very concrete threat from the AfD is imminent in the event of a possible government takeover in Saxony-Anhalt. The solidarity agreement is not just an agreement among the participating organizations, but an offer to civil society as a whole.The DGB organizes training for colleagues in the public service on how they can, or sometimes even have to, resist unconstitutional requirements. This requires a lot of courage and support for the local people. At the same time, Fahimi also sees a greater need for action by state institutions. A clearer stance is needed towards a truly defensive democracy.” Article by Henrike Stier from August 27, 2026 in New Germany online for theAlliance “Together for Democracy” 
• Annual report Mobile advice centers: What really helps against the extreme right 
  “Right-wing extremism is becoming more and more normal in Germany, warn the mobile advice centers. They are calling for more support for civil society
  The bookseller Theresa Donner from Halle knows how to counteract the shift to the right. When it became known that an extreme right-wing book fair was to take place in her city, she acted quickly. Together with other booksellers and cultural workers, she founded the “We Festival”. From September to November, over 400 readings, theater performances and concerts offered a counter-offer that attracted many people. It was hard to miss the festival in Halle, reports Donner: the logo of the volunteer-organized event was emblazoned in almost every shop window in the city center. “Instead of the usual ‘left versus right’ protests, we have created an open, low-threshold offer.” Cohesion is more likely to arise when you build something rather than just being “against it,” she explains. The festival gave her courage - also with a view to the 2026 state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD is currently well ahead in the polls. “Between the left and the right, there is a broad political center that would not describe itself as politically active, but is definitely committed to our democratic values ​​if they are not exploited but allowed to participate,” says Donner. Civil society associations helped set up the festival. Given the bureaucratic and legal hurdles, this was crucial in order to be able to get started at all. Associations that promote engagement like in Halle are active in mobile consultations against right-wing extremism. On Tuesday they presented their 2025 annual review. Title: “How right-wing extremism takes root in everyday life and how committed people take action against it.” The “We Festival” in Halle is an example of how to resist despite setbacks.Another example are the many CSDs that also took place in smaller East German cities, says Romy Arnold from the Federal Association. (…)
  Despite such successes, the results for 2025 are sobering. “The normalization of right-wing extremism has reached a new level,” says Arnold. Democratic parties also bear responsibility because they have adopted right-wing narratives and weakened the firewall. Young people in particular became radicalized. Neo-Nazis appear more self-confident, and right-wing groups dominate in some schools. Around 200 consultants from 50 agencies reported that violent neo-Nazi groups were increasingly active. At the same time, the conditions for civil society are deteriorating, says Arnold (…)
  The advice centers are recording a peak in inquiries from people who want to get involved in democracy and against right-wing extremism. (…) TheAtlas of Civil Society and also that onecurrent engagement report from the federal government showed that civil society in Germany is no longer considered open, but rather restricted.  The reasons are state intervention, legal uncertainty and right-wing extremist attacks…” Article by Gareth Joswig from December 2, 2025 in the taz online 
• Right-wing violence, empty coffers: East German civil society under pressure
  Further out of theArticle by Elisa Pfleger in the “Blättern” 4/2025 :“… If AfD state parliament member Hans-Thomas Tillschneider had his way, Saxony-Anhalt’s cultural policy would “cut all programs that are related to this ‘Living Democracy’ program” (…) In the eastern German city of Salzwedel, the CDU voted with the AfD in March against the program approved by the federal government; 90,000 euros per year are now missing for democratic youth work until 2033. (…) In the search for savings, the CDU is explicitly targeting democracy promotion. The budget politician Mathias Middelberg answered the question of where the Union planned to make cuts: "It's this 'Living Democracy' program, where, as an example, we have really big problems because we can't see that the money is being used effectively." Middelberg not only follows one of the AfD's core concerns in terms of content, but his argument is also similar to that of the party when it complained in the Bavarian state parliament that the program was too “non-transparent” and “does not do justice to its goal”. The reduction in public funding for democracy promotion would particularly affect the East - and thus those parts of civil society that are under unprecedented pressure from the far right. (…) Securing such financing would be the task of the new federal government. The fact that the rise of right-wing extremism and radicalism in East Germany is rightly complained about, while at the same time accepting the right-wing encroachment there, is a political failure. At the latest after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, when the AfD may form the state governments there, this will no longer be able to suppress federal politics.Until then, it will be felt by the committed local civil society in particular - for example in Limbach-Oberfrohna, where young people even defied an arson attack to preserve alternative socio-cultural spaces and thus defend democratic foundations - every day.

See also:

• Dossier:“Suitability for democracy” and “neutrality requirement”: The Office for the Protection of the Constitution reviews civil society projects (when allocating funding)
• Dossier:The FES's Mitte studies on right-wing extremist, anti-democratic attitudes of the so-called center in Germany
• Dossier:At the authoritarian tipping point: “Law and order” politics is booming

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