The extent of extremism in Spremberg exceeds expectations - Woidke asserts that the extent of extremism surpasses Spremberg
In the Lausitz region, the phase-out of coal is underway, but another pressing issue has arisen: the growing concern over right-wing extremism in the town of Spremberg.
Christine Herntier, the independent mayor of Spremberg, has warned of a threat from right-wing extremists, citing graffiti, anti-constitutional symbols, glorification of Nazism, and damage to public buildings as examples of their activities. The mayor has also expressed concerns about the influence of Neonazis in the town.
Brandenburg's Minister-President, Dietmar Woidke (SPD), has echoed Herntier's concerns, stating that when people committed to their homeland are threatened and no longer feel safe to go out due to physical or verbal hostility, immediate action is required. Woidke has expressed an urgent need for action against right-wing extremism, but has not specified any specific measures or strategies for addressing the issue.
The rise in extremism in Spremberg and Brandenburg has been linked to social factors such as the pandemic, which increased the sense of crisis and provided fertile ground for extremist narratives on social media. Last year, the number of right-wing extremists in Brandenburg reached a record high of 3,650, with 40% considered violence-oriented.
At the federal level, Germany has historically invested in counter-terrorism infrastructure and legislation like the Extremist Act, aiming to prevent radicals from entering public sector jobs. However, responses to right-wing extremism have sometimes lagged compared to other forms, partly due to perceptions of their political goals being negotiable.
Strategies to combat right-wing extremism combine increased intelligence and monitoring by constitutional protection agencies, political engagement to expose and counter extremist narratives, law enforcement actions against violence-oriented extremists, and public calls for greater awareness and new ideas. Despite these efforts, officials express that effective solutions are still evolving.
Dietmar Woidke has shown support for Herntier's open approach to addressing right-wing extremist activities in Spremberg, and has addressed a letter of concern from the mayor. Woidke believes that the problem of right-wing extremism is not limited to Spremberg, but is a societal issue throughout Brandenburg and Germany.
On Monday, Woidke will visit the Braunkohlekraftwerk Schwarze Pumpe in Spremberg along with Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU). It remains unclear what specific incidents or events led to Woidke's call for action against right-wing extremism in Spremberg, or what the response of the German government or other political parties has been beyond Woidke's support for the mayor's approach.
[1] Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution [2] Federal Criminal Police Office [3] The Guardian [4] Deutsche Welle
- Despite the EC countries focusing on employment policies to foster economic recovery, the growing issue of right-wing extremism in Spremberg and Brandenburg requires immediate attention in the realm of politics and general news, as it threatens the safety and unity of communities.
- As the phase-out of coal continues in the Lausitz region, it is alarming to note the rise in crime and justice issues, such as the increasing number of right-wing extremists in Brandenburg, which has reached a record high of 3,650, potentially overshadowing the region's employment concerns.
