Solidarity Instead of a Hot Autumn

For many years, so-called preppers and other far-right extremists have been preparing for “Day X”. 

Their goal is not to stockpile enough food for emergencies. Rather, they aim to exploit a volatile public mood for a violent seizure of power. To take control themselves, they hoard weapons, compile death lists, establish parallel communication networks, and spy on political opponents. According to statistics, hundreds of convicted far-right extremists have gone underground, over 10’000 privately owned weapons and even machine guns from Bundeswehr stockpiles have been stolen. Add to this over 5 million legally owned weapons — particularly among hunters!

Should larger-scale uprisings actually occur, we here too would have to fear that events similar to those surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington could unfold. An attempted storming of the Reichstag has already taken place, and further attempts are periodically announced. There could also be violent protests like those of the French Yellow Vests.

Since 2014, there have been alarming waves of demonstrations in Germany. First came HoGeSa neo-Nazis and self-proclaimed peace demonstrations in solidarity with Russian forces seizing Crimea and the Donbas. Then in 2015/2016, protests against refugees — mainly in the Dresden area, though particularly extremist groups and arson attacks were observed across the country. In 2020/2021, opponents of COVID prevention measures organised, seamlessly transitioning into pro-Putin rallies, and are currently preparing for what they call a “Hot Autumn”.

These protest groups, initially very different in content and diverse within themselves, nevertheless share overlapping elements and are ideologically converging ever more closely. Time and again, anti-Western, anti-democratic sentiments set the tone, all too often taking on conspiracy-ideological and antisemitic tendencies.

As early as 2014, parts of the party DIE LINKE were organizationally involved in the so-called Peace Winter. They are currently publicly heralding a “Hot Autumn” and intend to join the so-called Monday demonstrations — which, however, have for years already been instrumentalized by right-wing radicals for their own purposes. Verbally, DIE LINKE is thus walking hand in hand with the allegedly anti-constitutional forces of the AfD, Freie Sachsen, Pegida, the Identitarians, and Reichsbürger. The danger now is that representatives and supporters of the party will do so to an alarming extent ideologically and physically as well.

For Russia's war of aggression is in fact causing shortages in supply. Russian natural gas is needed particularly where many industrial processes begin. Likewise, a large proportion of homes are heated with natural gas. From a purely technical standpoint, switching over often cannot happen fast enough. This emergency situation is therefore real and brings with it corresponding hardships and risks.

Added to this are political missteps by the traffic-light coalition, which is under enormous pressure. The fuel tax discount and the gas surcharge are rightly controversial, and it is urgently necessary that such wrong turns be abandoned as quickly as possible.

But no matter how serious the failures or how deserving of criticism the measures, they do not justify stoking hatred, directly or indirectly supporting anti-democrats, amplifying uncertainty, and undermining the willingness to show solidarity and save energy!

The PARTEI MENSCH UMWELT TIERSCHUTZ urgently warns against exploiting people's dissatisfaction in order to derive political gains from it, or deliberately inciting people through misinformation and oversimplification.

What is needed now is constructive criticism, substantive public debate, and solidarity. Our democracy is threatened not only by militaristic autocracies waging imperial wars with tens of thousands of deaths, but also by extremist and populist actors at home.

If we do not now work together to ensure that this autumn and winter remain peaceful, the various protest movements will continue to grow, spiraling into radical reinterpretations of the world, leading to open violence and an existential threat to our democracy.

The PARTY FOR HUMAN BEINGS, ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMAL PROTECTION calls for energy and resources to be saved as effectively as possible. In particular, a switch to purely plant-based products is recommended, and we urge the federal government to finally create the necessary conditions for this. It truly can no longer be accepted how an unimaginable amount of resources are wasted on animal feed. In addition, price increases in all areas must be accompanied by social compensation measures, and a windfall profit tax must be introduced to finance them.

We also urgently call on people to avoid extremist gatherings and conspiracy-ideological communication channels. More misinformation and fake news is circulating right now than ever before. Behind this are highly professional actors who are investing large sums of money in inciting and unsettling the population. It is therefore extremely important to use only trustworthy sources.

Be vigilant and always question, at any demonstration you may consider attending, who initiated it, who else is participating and with what demands, and if necessary distance yourselves from statements that are contemptuous of human dignity, untrue, or threatening to democracy.

Also make sure to talk with friends, acquaintances, and colleagues about fears, hardships, and above all about solutions and how to treat one another with solidarity. Offer neutral and verified sources of information and have the courage to speak up against fake news and hate speech. Provide fact-checks and neutral sources. Feel free to draw attention to other and more serious problems, such as those in animal and environmental protection or in human rights worldwide, and point to solutions.

If we treat one another with solidarity and mindfulness, support each other, identify solutions in our private lives, and successfully demand them in the political arena, then the coming autumn and winter will not be as severe as those who want to exploit the mood for reasons of political calculation would have us believe. Solidarity is stronger than hatred and incitement — in every season!