A German climate activist group has rebranded itself, shifting its focus from climate change to democracy as a whole. The group, formerly known as the “Letzte Generation”, has now taken the name “Neue Generation”, or New Generation. According to a spokesperson, Raphael Thelen, the group’s new direction is a response to the perceived imbalance of power in politics, where money holds more sway than the citizens.
The group plans to establish a “Parliament of the People” to develop solutions, with the first meeting scheduled for May in front of the German Bundestag. Thelen stated that the aim is to create a “democratic network” across the country, with local meetings to follow.
The group’s new strategy is a departure from its previous focus on direct actions and court cases, which had garnered significant media attention in the past. Thelen acknowledged that the group’s popularity had waned, leading to a reevaluation of its approach. He described the past year as “painful” and expressed a desire to engage the broader public in its efforts.
A second offshoot of the group, dubbed the “Resistance Collective”, will focus on direct actions against destruction and injustice. Thelen, a 39-year-old former journalist, emphasized the need for a new generation of democracy, citing the influence of money in politics, which he believes benefits the wealthy at the expense of the poor, as exemplified by the policies of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Christian Democratic Union (CDU).