EU election donations

50,000 € for Last Generation in just 6 hours

The Last Generation can look forward to strong support for its candidacy in the European elections.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Odd ANDERSEN)

The Last Generation has cleared the first hurdle for standing in the EU elections in June. As the climate activists reported on Thursday, donors transferred 50,000 euros within just a few hours, and more than 100 volunteers have come forward since the plans to run for office were announced to help collect the 4,500 signatures needed to be admitted to the election.

At the beginning of February, the activists announced that they had founded an "other political association" called "Stir up Parliament - Voice of the Last Generation", with which they intend to run in the European elections on June 9. In addition to parties, these so-called other political associations are also allowed to participate in elections to the European Parliament. If they receive more than 0.5 percent of the votes cast, they are entitled to state subsidies.

"We are now taking the resistance to the EU Parliament"
"While party politics is stuck on the fossil highway to collapse, we are now taking our resistance to the EU Parliament and are being carried by a wave of support," explains EU lead candidate Lina Johnsen. Candidate Theodor Schnarr explains that the Last Generation will stand for election with "clear demands" that "show the prospect of a socially just and democratic turnaround".

Twelve people nominated for European elections
In its program, the Last Generation calls for the Europe-wide introduction of social councils by lot and the fastest possible phase-out of coal, gas and oil. The group also wants to campaign for global social justice and support movements for climate justice. The group has published a list of twelve candidates for the EU elections.

Participation in national elections not a prerequisite
"Other political associations" must be a membership organization, participate in political decision-making, aim to participate in popular representation and be active in at least one of the EU member states. Participation in other national or local elections is not a prerequisite for standing in the European elections.

The Last Generation has been causing a stir for over two years with high-profile protest campaigns. Most recently, the group announced that it would be abandoning its best-known form of protest - road blockades by gluing demonstrators to roadways. "From now on, we will protest in a different form - but it will remain unignorable," they said.