The demonstrations of right extremists increase in Germany

In the first half of 2023 in Germany, three times as many celebrations and demonstrations of right extremists as were in the same period last year.

The number of demonstrations organised by the neo-Nazi scene increased from 35 to 110, said a report by Germany's Interior Ministry.

One reason is the debate on the growing number of refugees, according to the report. And the end of the coronary pandemic, which had hampered large gatherings for two years, seems to be promoting the extremist scene.

The number of right-right rock concerts has dropped

On the other hand, according to the report, the number of rock concerts with extremist right motives has marked a slight decline from 89 to 71 in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. According to Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs figures in the period April-June, 35 such concerts were held.

Left Party MP Petra Pau expressed concern that “a year after the pandemic, the mobilization power of the extreme right is growing dramatically again”.

Most demonstrations were protests against refugees' shelters. Pau said that “we all have an obligation to prevent the extremely hostile attitude towards refugees from reaching levels similar to those in the early 1990s and 2015s. The largest number of demonstrations and gatherings of right extremists was registered in 2015, with 590. After this year the trend has been declining. / DW