The Endangered Republic

It was a coincidence that a few days after the details about the remigration meeting in Potsdam were revealed, a study day entitled The Endangered Republic was held at the Catholic Academy in Freiburg. The subtitle was Language, Thought, and Politics of the New National Radicals.

The event started at 2 PM. The number of participants was limited, but Red Baron had registered in good time.

The speakers were seated at tables in a horseshoe shape.
This was Red Baron's view.

In his introduction, the meeting host, Josef Markert, pointed out the need to defend right-wing extremists. Although Germany is a defensive democracy, what legal options exist to react against right-wing parties like the AfD?

On January 17.
10,000 Freiburgers demonstrated against the Right in the Square of the Old Synagogue (©BZ)

One hope for German democracy is that the meeting in Potsdam has triggered and is still triggering large demonstrations throughout Germany. One could speak of a grassroots movement.

The first speaker of the study day and book author, Patrick Bahners, drew a connection between biology and history because, for the AfD, the family is the most important ethnic element. It follows that the people are a family in a natural biological context.

At this point, I would have liked to ask the following question: In the past, the AfD was always seen as a protest against the established parties. With a potential voter base of 30% for the AfD, how many of these are protest voters, and how many are völkisch (ethnically) minded? Unfortunately, a discussion with the audience was not planned, but I later had the opportunity to ask Mr. Bahners. He estimated the hardcore at 10%.

The next speaker, Dr. Liane Bednarz, gave a broad, historical overview of the New Right in Germany, the origins of which date back to the 1920s. She said that the much-vaunted enemy from the left did not exist as a potential danger to democracy. She also mentioned the clericals, who, unlike in the US, do not play a significant role in a largely secularized Germany.

The three principles of the New Right are:

1. Anthropolarism: We must fight back against those at the top.

2. Antiliberalism: The enemy is the liberals, i.e., mainstream parties, human rights activists, and all those who advocate equal rights for minorities, open borders, and a free press.

3. Ethnopluralism: There should only be ethnically homogeneous peoples in a heterogeneous world - not the other way around.

It was interesting to hear how the New Right is dealt with in four European countries that have long had right-wing parties.

Matthias Krupa said that a meeting like the one in Potsdam would not draw anyone from the woodwork in France. Due to its past, Germany is a burnt child and, therefore, a latecomer when dealing with the New Right.

Marine Le Pen's Front National has gained votes in every poll since 2000, but the party needs at least 50% of the vote to come to power. Marine is highly cautious about her intentions regarding Europe. When in power, she first wants to ask the French in a referendum whether French law should take precedence over European law again.

Birgit Schönau reported on the situation in Italy. So far, Neo-Fascist Primeminister Giorgia Meloni has behaved in line with the EU. In Italy, the takeover of power took place via the media, which  Silvio Berlusconi had already firmly in control. Since then, the right-wing government has filled most of the key positions in art and culture with its candidates. For Giorgia, the Italian nation is at the forefront. So, it is no longer Italian cuisine but national cuisine.

In contrast, Bartosz Wieliński said the right-wing Polish PIS government had fallen out with the EU. With the media already entirely in the hands of the Right, the government tried to undermine the third power of democracy, the judiciary. This is against the EU charter. Therefore, Brussels withdrew funds from Poland, which led the government to remove some measures.

Then came the general elections to the Sejm on  October 15, where a center-left coalition won the majority. The PIS party was voted out of office. Still, the current transition of power has its challenges, as Polish President Andrzej Duda (originally PIS) is constantly putting obstacles in the way of the governing coalition.

That's an old story. When enemies of democracy are on the government bench, they install their people in the judiciary, in the authorities, in the public media, in the central bank, etc., so it's not so easy to get rid of them.

Natascha Strobl said that Austria's next National Council elections are due in the fall of 2024. However, there have been speculations about possible new elections for months and years amid the numerous crises and political turbulences. 

Cooperation between the governing ÖVP and the Greens is faltering. Both parties are threatened with losses and are far from a joint majority in the polls.

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Meanwhile, the FPÖ has recovered from multiple scandals since Austria's right-wing and protest voters are forgiving of many things. The "Freedom Party" is back in first place in election polls, so the extreme right may soon have a chance to provide the chancellor. Under those conditions, Natascha predicted a political brutalization in Austria. An uncontrollable mob could dominate the scene.

After more than four hours of intensive listening, Red Baron felt tired. I skipped a scheduled panel discussion later in the evening and went home.

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