- 'Grannies against the Right' worried about regional elections in the east
The "Grandmas Against the Right" movement looks ahead to the state elections in Eastern Germany with concern. They fear that a good result for the AfD could give them a so-called blocking minority in the appointment of judges, as stated at the first federal congress of the group in Erfurt. A blocking minority is a number of votes that, although representing a minority, can still prevent a decision from being made.
In Thuringia and Saxony, the state parliaments will be newly elected on September 1st, with Brandenburg following on September 22nd. At the congress in Erfurt, around 300 participants exchanged experiences and collected ideas for their voluntary engagement. "Grandmas Against the Right" has existed in Germany since 2018.
30,000 Grandmas Against the Right in Germany
There are now more than 200 groups nationwide with around 30,000 active members, the organizers reported. The large demonstrations for democracy at the beginning of the year have led to a significant increase in membership.
"We have weekly inquiries from interested parties," said Virginia Sonntag-O'Brien from the group in Freiburg (Baden-Württemberg). The movement is not growing as quickly in Eastern Germany, said Dagmar Freyberg-Schumann from Halle an der Saale. But in Thuringia, there are now groups in Erfurt, Jena, the district of Sonneberg, the Wartburg district, and the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.
In the final declaration, "Grandmas Against the Right" call on everyone to protect democracy as "the only viable form of coexistence." The task of democratic parties is to develop their own solutions and visions for societal problems and crises. Prolonged and unresolved problems, which are exploited by populists, pose a threat to democracy.
Responsibility for our grandchildren
The alliance bases its commitment primarily on countering right-wing populist and right-wing extremist developments, racism, anti-Semitism, and nationalism, with a focus on their responsibility for the younger generation - the generation of their grandchildren.
"I often discuss with my granddaughters that one must participate in democracy," said Renate Warner-Hopp from the Erfurt grandma group. She also goes to school discussions on the topic.
During the congress, the grandmas called for a demonstration in the Thuringian state capital to protect democracy. According to the police, around 800 people participated.
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The rise of the AfD in Eastern Germany, as feared by "Grandmas Against the Right," could potentially grant them a blocking minority in the appointment of judges, potentially hindering decision-making. This movement, established in 2018, is primarily concerned with countering right-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, and nationalism, viewing it as their responsibility towards the younger generation.
