Right-Wing 'M1llion' Movement Draws 10,000 in Plauen, Plans Leipzig Rally

On August 8, the 'government-critical' movement 'M1llion', affiliated with the far-right AfD, held a large demonstration in Plauen, Germany, attracting at least 10,000 participants. The group has announced another major event in Leipzig for August 24. In contrast, a simultaneous protest organized by the Left Party under the slogan 'Es reicht!' (It's enough!) in the capital drew only a few hundred attendees. The success of the right-wing forces in mobilizing mass support in the small Saxon town highlights their ability to channel frustration and discontent more effectively than left-wing and trade union movements. The article, published in the German newspaper 'der Freitag', questions whether this marks the beginning of a second 'Pegida' movement, referencing the anti-Islam and anti-immigration group that emerged in 2014. The piece suggests that a combination of right-wing civic movement and a right-wing party is better positioned to capitalize on public anger, revealing deficits in left-wing protest strategies.