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Mass protests across Germany against the far-right have come under scrutiny after revelations that several activist groups involved received substantial funding from the left-wing government in Berlin.
Europe’s largest newspaper, Bild, has revealed close connections between protest organizers and government funding, noting that the protest movements weren’t as grassroots as they appeared, with the paper observing that the “distances from the government district to the mass demonstrations are quite short.”
The protests, which saw 160,000 people gather in Berlin last Sunday, were sparked by the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) decision to align with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on an immigration vote.
🚨GERMAN GOVERNMENT FUNDS “ANTI-RIGHT” PROTESTS WITH TAXPAYER MONEY
Mass protests against the CDU and AfD are sweeping Germany, but a BILD investigation reveals many organizers are funded by the left-green government.
Groups like Campact, which organized Berlin’s “Uprising of… pic.twitter.com/xcDD5bAext
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 8, 2025
Investigation revealed that “Together against the right,” a primary protest organizer, is connected to Campact, a left-wing organization. Through its majority stake in HateAid, Campact has received nearly 2.5 million euros in federal funding since 2020.
Another key protest organizer, the Association for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation (BUND), was found to have received approximately two million euros from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Green Party candidate Robert Habeck. BUND also benefited from six-figure contributions from both the Environment and Education ministries in 2023.
The investigation exposed familial connections within BUND’s leadership. Its deputy chair, Verena Graichen, is married to Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary under Habeck, and is related to a former State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Even smaller protest groups received government support, with “grandmas against the right” – which organized a 24,000-person demonstration in Hanover – receiving at least 23,000 euros in federal funding.
Germany's left-wing government using taxpayer money to fund anti-AfD protests in the lead up to elections.
The entire global left is a taxpayer funded grift.https://t.co/5bydIqaO5V
— Peter St Onge, Ph.D. (@profstonge) February 9, 2025
This isn’t the first instance of government-funded opposition to the AfD. Last year, Correctiv, a taxpayer-subsidized organization with ties to George Soros, published controversial claims about an AfD conference that were later disputed by attendees, including a CDU member. Despite questionable sourcing, the report triggered nationwide protests and temporarily affected AfD’s polling numbers.
The AfD faces increasing pressure, including calls for its outright ban, yet continues to gain support, particularly following several migrant-related terror incidents. Meanwhile, support for the governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) has plummeted, with a Tyson Group poll showing 70 percent disapproval of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s leadership.
Alex Alvarado, Tyson Group Vice President, noted this trend reflects broader European dissatisfaction with leftist governance, stating: “Issues like the rising cost of living, healthcare, and migration remain top concerns, while conservative solutions like stricter border controls and a focus on domestic food production garnered widespread support. This survey highlights a clear shift toward conservatism across Europe, with citizens expressing frustration with high taxes, government inefficiency, and the perceived rise of the far-left.”
