A large number of Germans took to the streets on Saturday to demonstrate against right-wing extremism, called by the “Omas gegen Rechts” (Grandmothers Against the Right) action network. With over 30,000 members, the loose network of local and regional groups has gained significant media attention and political relevance in recent months.
While claiming to be “unpartisan” and “neutral” the organization has primarily emerged in opposition to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and more recently, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz due to his asylum policy and alleged rightward shift.
Research by the news portal Nius has revealed that the organization is subsidized by the state. Over the past three years, several local “Oma” groups received 18,000 euros from the Ministry of Family and 5,000 euros from the Federal Chancellery. Additionally, the organization receives strong PR support in the media and organizational services. For instance, the government-backed Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung supported the first federal congress, held in Erfurt in August 2024 over three days.
The organization also offers communication training programs. In October 2024, the foundation reported on the funding of a “full-day seminar for 13 participants between 61 and 75 years old” where participants learned to counter “false information and right-wing chat room slogans” with the help of a “professional communication trainer.” There have been previous projects to strengthen media competence. In this way, a social group was identified and steered as a professional activist network. The Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung itself receives funds from the “Democracy Lives” funding pool, a total of 8.8 million euros since 2015.
Another actor calling for protests is the German Federal Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation, known as the BUND. This organization also receives state funds from numerous government agencies, including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, led by Robert Habeck of the Alliance 90/The Greens. According to the Bundestag’s Lobby Register, the BMWK paid the BUND 2 million euros in 2023 for the “Strengthening of Civil Society in the Implementation of National Climate Policy.”
The BUND not only strengthens civil society in the context of climate policy but also in the context of the so-called “Brandmauer” (border wall). The organization calls for demonstrations in small towns like Meppen in the Emsland and large cities like Stuttgart and Cologne, with the slogan “We are the Brandmauer” in Stuttgart.
Another important role in organizing the demonstrations “against the right” is played by the organization Campact, according to Nius. While not receiving state funds, Campact is a co-founder and main partner of the non-profit HateAid, which has received almost 2.5 million euros from the Ministry of Family since 2020. This means that Campact also benefits from the funds of the Ministry of Family, led by the Greens. Campact is also said to have donated to the Left, the Greens and the Social Democratic Party during the election campaign in the eastern German states and initiates regular petitions against the AfD.
In recent weeks, the protests have also expanded to include opposition to the CDU/CSU’s migration policy. A particularly large demonstration in Munich with up to 200,000 participants was organized by the Before organization, whose chairperson is the SPD city councilor Micky Wenngatz. In other cities, the network “Together Against the Right” was active. This alliance was the organizer of the “Uprising of the Decent” on the previous Sunday in Berlin. Campact is also behind this action, with its headquarters in Verden an der Aller, Lower Saxony.
The Swiss portal Weltwoche wrote about a state-financed shadow network with the frivolous name “civil society.” However, the revelations by Nius in the German press have so far not triggered further reactions. Later, the Springer media outlets Bild and Welt, as well as the free journalist Boris Reitschuster, reported on the issue. The latter pointed out the pressure in municipal institutions, authorities, schools and companies to participate in the “democracy demonstrations” with those who refuse showing “attitude” being negatively affected, he criticized.
In a statement on Sunday, Campact described the reporting as a smear campaign. The Bild created the impression that the assemblies of the past few days and Campact were financed by state funds. Campact denied receiving any funds, directly or indirectly, from a federal ministry or state institution. “Furthermore, Campact does not receive any funds from the HateAid gGmbH.” Felix Kolb, the executive director of Campact, claimed, “Using the peaceful protest from the middle of society for a smear campaign against the democratic center is the lowest of the low and deeply undemocratic. At the same time, it shows how effective our protests are.