Determined fighters against right-wing extremism: Reimer and Florian in action!

Determined fighters against right-wing extremism: Reimer and Florian in action!

Something is happening in young left-wing politics in central Saxony and in Ries, Bavaria. Two remarkable personalities, Cindy Reimer and Leon Florian, work tirelessly against right-wing extremism and for social justice. While Reimer, as the 32-year-old parliamentary group leader of the Left in the district council, already has experience in the political landscape, 25-year-old Florian, who works as an educator and is the district spokesman for the Left in Bavaria, has also brought a breath of fresh air into the party.

Reimer, who herself was a victim of right-wing violence in her youth, is actively campaigning against the increasing presence of extreme right-wing groups. Their commitment became particularly visible through the founding of the “Bunten Pearls Waldheim” initiative in January 2024, which organizes creative actions against right-wing tendencies. This initiative was even awarded the Saxon Promotion Prize for Democracy and has since developed into the Mosaïque association. She reports on a butyric acid attack on a Christopher Street Day event that was carried out by right-wing extremist local politicians and warns that right-wing extremist thinking has now become part of mainstream society.

Political challenges and opportunities

Cindy Reimer ran as a non-party candidate in June 2024 and was elected to the district council. A central concern of her political work is strengthening crafts and securing career prospects in rural areas. Rural areas themselves are under pressure: there is a threat of emigration, especially among young people. To counteract this, the rural development directive aims to create permanent jobs and improve living conditions in the villages. In particular, it is about reducing barriers to investment and improving the accessibility of localities so that they remain attractive for residents, as Laendlicher-Raum Sachsen explains.

Florian is faced with a different challenge. In Bavaria, the Left is heavily underrepresented and only has around one percent of the vote, while the CSU can achieve over 30 percent. Florian also reports on psychological hurdles that stand in the way of his own political commitment. Many people often associate left-wing politics with the GDR or the Soviet Union, which makes it difficult to trust the left. Nevertheless, it shows that change is possible; his district association now has around 100 members. At a demonstration co-organized by the Left in Nördlingen in February 2024, 3,000 citizens took to the streets against right-wing extremism.

Commitment at eye level

Both politicians emphasize how important it is to talk to local people and take their concerns seriously. Despite the challenges, Reimer and Florian are determined to continue on their course and gain more influence in the city and district councils. Reimer makes it clear that trust in politics is often lacking in the region and that it is essential to restore it.

The Academy for Social Education and Social Work, among others, has discussed the more in-depth strategic approaches against right-wing extremism and social cohesion in rural areas. V. and the Federal Network for Civic Engagement in their recommendations for action. Her publications offer valuable insights into how to overcome these challenges and highlight the need for civil society strategies that serve the needs of the population and counter right-wing extremist tendencies, such as Springer summarizes.

In short, the political landscape in Central Saxony and the Bavarian Ries shows that a young left-wing movement with strong social commitment is flourishing. Reimer and Florian are exemplary actors who do not give up in a time full of challenges, but instead fight for their idea of ​​a fair and solidarity-based society.