Eastern German states expand civics initiatives amid far-right push

Teachers across eastern Germany report an increase in anti-democratic behavior and right-wing extremist symbols among students. In response, Thuringia's education ministry is collaborating with the University of Jena to introduce "constitutional coaches" to assist schools in promoting democratic values.

Additionally, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the SED dictatorship, called for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites to strengthen historical awareness about the communist regime.

The initiatives coincide with intensifying political debates ahead of regional elections. In Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads in polls, the party proposed defunding cultural institutions deemed "anti-German." Critics warn this plan threatens local theaters, Bauhaus sites, and Holocaust memorials.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau.