The German city of Dresden has officially declared a "Nazi emergency" amid fears over the rise of far-Right groups in the eastern city, passing a resolution last week aimed at strengthening democracy and protecting minorities amid growing concern about far-right extremism.
German news agency dpa reported Friday that the motion warned that anti-democratic and extremist views and even violence were "increasingly becoming apparent" in Dresden.
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The motion demanded increases in funding for education and civil engagement, while it also called upon council authorities not to approve any marches featuring far-Right elements.
In calling for federal support to tackle the crisis, the motion stated that "anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, misanthropic and right-wing extremist values and actions, including violence in Dresden, are increasingly becoming apparent."
Dresden is home to the anti-Islam and xenophobic group PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West) and the far-right Alternative for Germany party received more than 17% of the vote in city council elections this year.
The motion, which was passed Wednesday, was supported by members of the Left Party, the environmentalist Greens, the center-left Social Democrats, the pro-business Free Democrats and a satirical party known simply as The Party.
"This city has a problem with Nazis and we need to do something about it," said The Party councilor Max Aschenbach.
"There have been five years of [right-wing rallies], terrorist attacks and terrorist groups – and everyday news reports on Swastikas and Hitler salutes. Politicians must finally be able to stand up and say 'no, this is unacceptable,'" Aschenbach said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats voted against the motion.
The motion further calls for a focus on "fighting the causes of far-right attitudes and their consequences, such as anti-Semitism, racism and Islamophobia, and on restoring the trust in democratic institutions and the appreciation of diversity and respectful solidarity."
