A leading voice in Germany’s fight against extremism has issued a stark warning about the escalating normalization of right-wing ideologies and the potential for further democratic erosion in the coming year. Peter Ruhenstroth-Bauer, chairman of “Gesicht Zeigen! Für ein weltoffenes Deutschland e.V”. (Show Your Face! For a Cosmopolitan Germany), criticized the creeping acceptance of intolerance experienced throughout 2025, highlighting a concerning drift toward the far-right.
Ruhenstroth-Bauer, in remarks to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, argued that mere declarations of support from political leaders are no longer sufficient to combat the rising tide of antisemitism and extremist narratives permeating mainstream society. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has pledged unwavering support to Jewish communities, Ruhenstroth-Bauer emphasized that true security arises not from pronouncements, but from a robust, grassroots civil society capable of confronting intolerance directly.
He expressed deep concern that organizations dedicated to upholding democratic values are now facing unwarranted scrutiny and pressure, particularly regarding their funding. “Those who put the financing of democracy work at the disposal of electoral tactics are playing with fire” Ruhenstroth-Bauer cautioned. He dismissed the prospect of future debates regarding the necessity of democratic engagement, insisting that the focus must shift to securing long-term, substantial support for such initiatives.
The outlook for 2026 is particularly troubling. With five state elections scheduled in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, alongside crucial municipal elections, analysts predict a continued deterioration of democratic standards. Current polling data suggests a possibility of collaboration with right-wing extremist groups in several states, posing a significant threat to constitutional frameworks.
Ruhenstroth-Bauer framed 2026 as a critical test for German democracy. He warned that any further weakening of the bulwark against extremist ideologies at the local level would undermine the very foundations of German social cohesion. “We demand more courage from politics and society in the new year: courage to draw a clear line against right-wing extremism and courage to unconditionally support those who are daily showing their face” he stated.
“Gesicht Zeigen!” was founded in 2000 following a surge in right-wing violence, including a deeply disturbing antisemitic arson attack on a synagogue in Düsseldorf that provoked a strong response from then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who called for an “uprising of decency”. The organization’s 25th anniversary this autumn serves as a somber reminder of the ongoing challenges facing the nation.
