Citizens in Rage (, BIW) was a German
right-wing populist
Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right populism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics with populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti- elitist sentiments, opposition to the Establishm ...
political party in Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany has a plural multi-party system. Historically, the largest by members and parliament seats are the Christian Democratic Union (Germany), Christian Democratic Union (CDU), with its sister party, the Christian Socia ...
formerly represented in the
state parliament of
Bremen
Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...
. It was led by Jan Timke until its merger with
Bündnis Deutschland in September 2023.
It was founded in March 2004 as a successor to the Bremen section of the
Party for a Rule of Law Offensive ("
Schill party"). Its focus was on
law and order and
opposition to immigration
Opposition to immigration, also known as anti-immigration, is a political position that seeks to restrict immigration. In the modern sense, immigration refers to the entry of people from one state or territory into another state or territory in ...
policies.
The association participated in the
2007 Bremen parliamentary election. Bremen electoral law has a threshold that a party must surmount by winning 5% of the popular vote, either in the
city of Bremen, or in
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven (; ) is a city on the east bank of the Weser estuary in northern Germany. It forms an exclave of the Bremen (state), city-state of Bremen. The Geeste (river), River Geeste flows through the city before emptying into the Weser.
Brem ...
. Citizens in Rage contested the smaller constituency of Bremerhaven. According to the official results, the association won 2,216 votes or 4.998% – only one vote short of the threshold. Thereupon, Citizens in Rage requested a re-count. The competent court detected relevant mistakes in the elections in the constituency of Bremerhaven, and imposed an election rerun in one voting precinct. In the rerun on 6 July 2008, Citizens in Rage won 27.6% of the popular vote in the concerned precinct, which revised the Bremerhaven result of the movement up to 5.29% – enough for one seat in the state parliament.
In the
2011 Bremen state election, Citizens in Rage could report significant gains: they won 3.7% of the popular vote statewide – in contrast to 0.8% in 2007, and could defend their seat in the state legislative assembly.
Citizens in Rage saw themselves as democratic conservative, although anti-establishment. Political scientists and observers classify the movement as right-wing populist, but not extremist or anti-constitutional.
Piet Leidreiter was the
lead candidate for the party at the
2023 Bremen state election. The Party achieved their best-ever result with 9.4%, benefitting from the absence of the
Alternative for Germany
Alternative for Germany (, AfD, ) is a Far-right politics in Germany (1945–present), far-right,Far-right:
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* Right-wing populism, right-wing populist and National conservatism, national-conservative p ...
(AfD), who were disqualified from running due to internal party disputes. Following the election, BIW merged with
Bündnis Deutschland.
Election results
Bürgerschaft of Bremen
See also
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Pro Germany Citizens' Movement
References
External links
Official website (in German)
2004 establishments in Germany
Conservative parties in Germany
German nationalist political parties
Nationalist parties in Germany
Political parties established in 2004
Political parties disestablished in 2023
Politics of Bremen (state)
Right-wing populism in Germany
Right-wing populist parties
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