The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was criticized by the founder of the organization “Radical Daughters”.Image: keystone
March 25, 2026, 3:55 p.mMarch 25, 2026, 3:55 p.m
The German Federal Agency for Civic Education (BPB) promotes democracy programs in Germany. This actually also includes the organization “Radical Daughters”, which carries out anti-extremism projects in rural areas in Germany. Young people should be motivated to participate democratically, which should weaken right-wing extremist groups.
Now the German Federal Ministry of the Interior has canceled funding for the organization – although the reason is unclear. As in previous years, the “Radical Daughters” applied for funds for 2025 and 2026 from the federal “Cohesion through Participation” program, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior. The application was approved after weeks of review; the organization apparently met all the content requirements. This is shown by internal documents “Report Mainz” present.
Since the interior ministers were replaced due to the new elections in Germany in 2025, the funds could not initially be formally approved or paid out. It was said that the “Radical Daughters” could still continue with their workshops. The approximately 300,000 euros (the equivalent of almost 274,900 francs) would follow.
However, the organization did not receive the money. On January 5, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior sent a decree to the BPB stating that the project should not receive any funding. According to “Report Mainz”, the ministry did not provide a reason.
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior did not approve the funding.Image: IMAGO / Herrmann Agency Photography
People who are entrusted with the events speak to “Report Mainz” of a “one-off event” and suspect political backgrounds. Because: The founder of the organization protested against the German federal government in October last year. At this time, there was criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz because he saw a “problem in the cityscape” due to migration. The “Radical Daughters” then accused Merz of racism and “Nazi rhetoric reminiscent of Goebbels.” A few weeks later the Interior Ministry issued a decree.
The responsible head of department made it clear in an email that grant recipients were allowed to position themselves politically. In a letter from the management of the authorities to the Ministry of the Interior there is talk of a possible “violation of the ban on arbitrariness”, reports “Report Mainz”.
The deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Sonja Eichwede finds it “surprising” that individual projects are being removed from the funding program. She told “Report Mainz”:
“We shouldn’t have to be accused of wanting to stop projects we don’t like or certain political expressions of opinion.”
The opposition also criticizes the process. “The impression of arbitrariness should never arise,” says Green domestic politician Konstantin von Notz. The Federal Ministry of the Interior did not comment on “Report Mainz”. (hkl)