German ‘Reichsbuerger’ coup plotters go on trial: Is democracy at stake?
Al Jazeera
The ‘Reichsbuerger’ movement was planning to overthrow the German government. Is the threat of an anti-democratic coup real?
A high-profile trial of members of a far-right group accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the German government is set to begin in Frankfurt on May 21, amid concerns over growing “extremism” ahead of European and national elections.
The leaders of the so-called “Reichsbuerger” movement are expected to take the stand on Tuesday for planning in 2022 to restore the pre-World War I German empire and “forcibly eliminate the existing state order”.
The alleged plot – the most high-profile recent case of far-right violence – has raised concerns over rocketing support for radical ideologies.
While experts say the threat of a coup in Germany remains negligible, the trial takes place at a time when the German far-right is polling high for the European elections in June and national elections in 2025, which could give it a new launchpad to expand its influence.
The Reichsbuerger (“Citizens of the Reich”) movement is largely seen as an eclectic mix of monarchy supporters and conspiracy theorists with a few thousand followers. German authorities say, however, that the movement has access to a large arsenal of weapons and is prepared to kill to take over the parliament building in Berlin.
