A leading voice in Germany’s fight against extremism has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating threat of right-wing radicalization and its potential to undermine democratic institutions. Peter Ruhenstroth-Bauer, chairman of the “Face It! For an Open-Minded Germany” association, criticized what he described as a “creeping normalization of the unbearable” during 2025, emphasizing that mere political pronouncements are no longer sufficient to combat the rising tide of antisemitism and extremist narratives infiltrating mainstream society.
While Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has pledged support to Jewish communities, Ruhenstroth-Bauer asserted that genuine security necessitates a robust and geographically dispersed civil society, not simply assurances. He specifically voiced concern over the increasing pressure being placed on organizations dedicated to safeguarding democratic values, questioning whether funding for such vital work is being subjected to political expediency. “Those who put the financing of democracy work at the disposal for tactical reasons are playing with fire” he stated directly.
The outlook for 2026 is reportedly bleak. With five state elections scheduled in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, alongside crucial local elections, the potential for “further erosion of democratic standards” looms large. Current polling data suggests a concerning possibility that coalitions involving parties deemed explicitly right-wing extremist could emerge in several states, potentially posing a tangible danger to constitutional principles.
Ruhenstroth-Bauer pointedly declared 2026 “the maturity test for our democracy”. He warned that a collapse of the metaphorical “firewall” against right-wing extremism at the local level would erode the very foundations of German society. The organization, founded in 2000 following a surge in right-wing violence, including a devastating antisemitic arson attack on the Düsseldorf synagogue that prompted then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to call for an “uprising of decency” is urging political and societal leaders to display courage in confronting extremism and unconditionally supporting those on the front lines. The association’s 25th-anniversary serves as a somber reminder of the persistent challenge of protecting democratic values in Germany. He called for “courage to draw a clear line against right-wing extremism and courage to unconditionally support those who show their faces every day”.