Pro-movement

The pro-movement or the pro-parties was understood to be a conglomerate of parties, voter associations and associations in Germany that were de jure independent, but de facto closely intertwined with one another in terms of personnel, organization and program. The pro-Cologne association and the pro-NRW and pro-Germany parties acted as central organizations. After the self-dissolution of pro Germany and pro Cologne in 2017 and 2018 and the conversion of pro NRW into an association in 2019, the activities of the pro movement were largely discontinued. However,^[1] there are still a few local groups such as the Pro Chemnitz citizens' movement.

Social scientists and constitutional protection authorities classified the pro-movement as far right and anti-constitutional. In self-descriptions, it described itself as right-wing populist, conservative or “liberal” and oriented towards other right-wing populist parties in Europe such as the FPÖ in Austria or the Vlaams Belang in Belgium, with which there was also official cooperation. In 2012, parts of the pro-movement also became the target of investigations against the neo-Nazi comradeship “Freundeskreis Rade”.

In terms of content, the pro-movement made a name for itself primarily by stoking fears and resentment towards Muslim migrants. This is followed by the rejection of the multicultural society and the warning against alleged “Islamization” and “foreign infiltration”. Other focal points included the demand for a zero-tolerance policy in domestic politics, a commitment to the “Christian West” and the fight against “cliques and corruption”.

The number of members, activists and supporters of the pro-movement was not exactly known. Official figures were only available to a limited extent due to the highly decentralized organizational structure and the pro-parties themselves have been shown to provide false membership figures in their press releases. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia estimated the number of members of pro Cologne, pro NRW and pro Germany in 2015 at around 800. In 2018,^[2] the number of pro NRW party members was given as 400.^[3]