Right-wing extremism - Hildburghausen: Alliance for New Start in Fight against Right
After the long-term Landrat of Hildburghausen, Thomas Müller (CDU), stepped down from his position, the Citizens' Alliance of Müller's successor Sven Gregor (Free Voters) is calling for a new start in the fight against Right-wing Extremism. "Given the very dramatic election results in the district, there must now be a clear positioning – also from the new Landrat," said Thomas Jakob, spokesperson for the Alliance for Democracy and Openness Kloster Veßra, to the German Press Agency. Such clear positioning from the political leadership of the district had not been seen in the past few years. This lack contributed to the fact that right-wing extremist ideas have spread strongly in the district. "Exactly that was missing: That a Landrat once clearly said: Yes, we have a problem with right-wing extremism."
When a Landrat addresses this problem openly, it has a different effect on many people in the region than if, for example, civil society or individual companies draw attention to it, Jakob said. So far, there has been a "tendency to keep quiet" about the issue.
Several large Right-rock Concerts
The 60,000-inhabitant district located in the southern part of Thuringia has attracted attention throughout Germany in recent years due to right-wing extremist activities. For example, several large Right-rock Concerts took place there before the Corona pandemic, including the largest such festival in post-war German history. Approximately 6,000 right-wing extremists from all over Europe attended.
At the latest local election, the open and deeply rooted right-wing extremist Tommy Frenck even made it to the runoff for the position of Landrat of Hildburghausen.
Müller, the previous Landrat of Hildburghausen, had been criticized for years for not taking right-wing structures and currents in the region seriously enough. He had always dismissed such criticisms.
Petition launched
In a petition addressed to Gregor, the Citizens' Alliance is demanding that the new Landrat engage with the problem of the growing acceptance and tolerance of right-wing attitudes and content in the region. "Develop together with representatives of civil society, business, social organizations, churches, trade unions, cultural figures, and many others who are interested in an open district, effective approaches against right-wing extremism," the petition states further. Gregor should also work towards "ensuring that a political consensus is reached that excludes cooperation with the BZH and the AfD." So far, approximately 1,600 people have signed this petition on the internet. BZH is a local political grouping that Frenck is associated with.
Gregor stated that he sees the question of how right-wing extremism should be addressed in the future as a "very important issue." "I see a problem there, yes," he told the dpa. In response to the petition, he plans to convene a round table at the Landratsamt, where all those who want to counter this ideology can come together and exchange ideas. "For this, there must be an exchange at eye level."
- The Free Voters' Alliance of Sven Gregor, the successor of former Landrat Thomas Müller in Hildburghausen District, has emphasized the need for a new approach to combat Right-wing Extremism.
- The German Press Agency reported that Thomas Jakob, spokesperson for the Alliance for Democracy and Openness Kloster Veßra, called for a clear stance against extremism from the new Landrat following the district's recent concerning election results.
- Hildburghausen, a district in southern Thuringia with a population of 60,000, has been in the spotlight due to its right-wing extremist activities, including large Right-rock Concerts before the Corona pandemic.
- In the local elections, open right-wing extremist Tommy Frenck advanced to the runoff for the Landrat position in Hildburghausen, prompting concerns about the district's stance on extremism.
- The Citizens' Alliance launched a petition demanding that the new Landrat, Gregor, tackle the growing acceptance and tolerance of right-wing attitudes in the region by collaborating with various sectors of society.
- Gregor, aware of the importance of addressing right-wing extremism, has announced plans to convene a roundtable at the Landratsamt to foster dialogue between all interested parties and exchange ideas on countering this ideology.
