Unity is Key, According to Clara Bünger
In the heart of Germany's federal parliament, the Bundestag, Die Linke party is set to host the "Self-Defense of Civil Society" conference this Friday. The event aims to network progressive political work, defend basic rights, and address mounting concerns over the erosion of democratic values and asylum seekers' rights.
Clara Bünger, the internal political spokesperson of the Die Linke faction in the Bundestag, is confident that much will come of the conference. Bünger, a lawyer who entered parliament in 2022 and was also involved in the international movement Seebrücke, will likely play a significant role in the discussions.
The conference will engage with various actors, including activists and people who are "professionally" active in civil society. Proposals have already been submitted to defend the rights of refugees, such as those regarding illegal pushbacks, and to address the threatened withdrawal of financial resources from civil society organizations.
The Union's actions are seen as part of an increasingly authoritarian course by the party. Right-wing voices within the CDU are advocating for the normalization of the AfD and eroding the rule of law, portraying NGOs as an elitist minority that undermines a supposed "popular will". This policy is similar to that of the AfD a few years ago, but is now being adopted by the Union.
The event was prompted by an inquiry by the Union with 551 questions about the financing and personal connections of civil society organizations. Interventions in academic freedom, restrictions on freedom of assembly and press, brutal police violence at demonstrations, and the erosion of asylum seekers' rights are occurring in Germany.
Civil society is under great pressure in Germany, with organizations facing the withdrawal of funding due to political unpopularity, particularly refugee and Palestine solidarity voices. The conference will discuss these issues and seek ways to defend civil liberties and the right to protest.
Die Linke often addresses topics related to civil rights and self-defense of civil society. The party frequently organizes events or debates in the Bundestag on anti-fascism, police reform, protecting civil rights, and social justice. In the context of civil society, "Self-Defense" could refer to protecting democratic values against right-wing extremism, providing legal and practical support for activists facing state repression, and discussing civil liberties and the right to protest.
It is important to note that there is no widely known "Self-Defense of Civil Society" conference hosted by Die Linke in the Bundestag in recent years. However, if you have a specific date, speaker, or further details, a targeted search can help provide more precise information.
As the conference unfolds, it is hoped that progressive political work within and outside of parliament will come together to defend basic rights without division, ensuring that the principles of democracy, social justice, and civil society continue to thrive in Germany.
- The Self-Defense of Civil Society conference, hosted by Germany's Die Linke party in the Bundestag, aims to defend democratic values, assemble progressive political work, and address concerns over erosion of rights, including asylum seekers' rights.
- Die Linke's Clara Bünger, a lawyer and parliament member since 2022, is expected to play a significant role in the discussions, given her experience with organizations like Seebrücke.
- The conference will engage with various actors, including activists and professionals active in civil society, to defend refugee rights and address threatened financial withdrawals from civil society organizations.
- The Union's actions are perceived as part of an increasingly authoritarian course, with right-wing voices advocating for the normalization of the AfD, eroding the rule of law, and portraying NGOs as an elitist minority undermining the 'popular will'.
- The inquiry by the Union with 551 questions about civil society organizations' financing and personal connections, as well as interventions in academic freedom, restrictions on freedom of assembly and press, police violence, and erosion of asylum seekers' rights are escalating in Germany.
- As the conference approaches, it aims to discuss and seek ways to defend civil liberties, the right to protest, and protect democratic values against right-wing extremism, provide legal and practical support for activists, and ensure the principles of democracy, social justice, and civil society continue to thrive in Germany.
