The media exposure and the clumsy reactions from established political parties have increased the appeal of the movement. It is growing.
Last autumn, a few thousand people started marching peacefully in the centre of Dresden voicing concern about an alleged islamisation of the western world. Dresden has the lowest percentage of Muslims in any of the larger cities in Germany. Most participants will rarely have seen one on their streets.
But all have seen the coverage of atrocities of the ‘Islamic State’ and other violence in the Middle East. Further they have followed the clumsy reactions of German policy makers as to what to do about Germans going to fight in Syria and what if they come back.
But above all, so many citizens do not feel any of the established parties have been listening to them, are doing anything the belly feeling will suggest to the average straight thinking man on the street. They feel totally alienated by what goes on in politics of the country. They hate saving Greece, they detest the European Union, they fear globalisation and feel threatened by all of this.
Life as it used to be, seems, is not anymore. And no one is listening.
In German and other countries, political parties have emerged on similar concerns. Geert Wilders’ PVV, Marine Le Pens’ Front National, the UKIP in Brittan, the AfD in Germany and quite some more, all over the Union.
But this movement has no party, rejects parties, will not even talk to the press as the press are all seen as liars.
Established parties and media all repeat the politically correct talk of ever closer union, respect for all cultures, etc. Some are trying to cash in through populism. But these established voices were born in a post wartime when asylum was understood as a fundamental right, when a union was held to guarantee we never have war between us again. Human rights, gay rights, women’s rights were all enshrined in laws and treaties.
Still, many common citizens deep down inside do not hold these values. And by now globalisation destines others to be the winners, and them to be the losers.
So, this movement is dangerous. It will catch fire in other EU countries, it may constitute as a pan European new political party that will win seats in the parliament. Democracy at work?
Anything xenophobic that emanates from Germany rings all the alarm bells. Possibly that will help, yet, I fear it will help strengthening the movement more.
Check out the tweets today on Twitter. #PEGIDA
830 tweets as I was writing and dining...