Woidke emphasizes that the extremism issue exceeds the bounds of Spremberg - Woidke claims that the prevalence of extremism exceeds Spremberg's scope
In the eastern German state of Brandenburg, the fight against far-right extremism has become a pressing concern. Dietmar Woidke, the Minister-President of Brandenburg, has expressed his urgent need for action in this regard, echoing the sentiments of independent Mayor Christine Herntier of Spremberg.
Mayor Herntier has publicly warned of a threat from far-right extremists in her city, citing graffiti, anti-constitutional symbols, glorification of Nazism, and damage to public buildings as examples. She has written a public letter to the citizens of Spremberg and, more notably, to Woidke. However, it is not clear what specific actions she has requested in her letter regarding the fight against far-right extremism.
Woidke, a member of the SPD political party, has emphasized the importance of convincing people that extremism threatens the future of their homeland, as well as their prosperity and freedom. He has addressed Herntier's letter of appeal and acknowledged that the problem of far-right extremism is not limited to Spremberg, but is a societal issue throughout Brandenburg and Germany.
On Monday, Woidke will visit the Schwarze Pumpe coal-fired power plant in Spremberg together with Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU). This visit, while not directly related to the issue of far-right extremism, underscores Woidke's commitment to addressing the challenges facing Spremberg.
The Lausitz region, where Spremberg is located, is currently undergoing transition due to the coal phase-out. This transition, coupled with the rise of far-right extremism, presents a unique set of challenges for local authorities.
Local officials and experts admit that no successful "recipe" to stop this trend currently exists. The Brandenburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution reported a record increase in right-wing extremists last year, with 3,650 individuals identified and about 40% considered violence-oriented, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue beyond Spremberg.
Efforts to counter extremism include intensified monitoring and intelligence work by constitutional protection agencies, aiming to contain extremist networks and violent individuals. However, these measures have yet to translate into comprehensive community or policy strategies with clear successes beyond isolated interventions.
The rise of far-right extremism in Brandenburg is linked to political shifts, as seen in election results favoring authoritarian and xenophobic parties such as the AfD. This political environment complicates efforts to counter extremism.
In summary, Brandenburg is actively confronting far-right extremism beyond Spremberg through surveillance, political acknowledgment, and calls for new strategies. However, progress is limited by the scale and complexity of the problem and ongoing societal factors that fuel extremism. The search for effective solutions continues.
[1] German Press Agency, "Brandenburg grapples with far-right extremism beyond Spremberg," [date], URL [2] German Press Agency, "Political shifts fuel rise of far-right extremism in eastern Germany," [date], URL
- The rising concern of far-right extremism in EC countries, such as Germany, requires a robust employment policy that addresses the socio-economic root causes of extremism, especially in regions experiencing transition like the Lausitz region.
- As the problem of far-right extremism in Brandenburg extends beyond Spremberg, it is essential to incorporate elements of general news, politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice in employment policies to better understand and combat this societal issue.
