Last weekend, DiEM25 held its largest Germany-wide meeting to date, in Frankfurt.
Almost 100 DiEMers and non-members descended on the country’s financial capital to discuss topics from the role and power of the ECB to the potential for a European Constitution.
The three-day event also addressed issues highly pertinent to the direction of DiEM25 itself: specifically, whether our movement should develop its own electoral identity. In one of the best-attended workshops, participants discussed the pros and cons of DiEM25 retaining its position as a movement, of becoming a party, and of establishing a so-called ‘electoral wing’.
 

 
Many members supported this latter proposal, while others recommended allowing the movement to develop organically and to reinforce its policy base, before embarking on electoral activities. All participants, however, acknowledged the urgency of putting forward a progressive resistance to the nationalist resurgence.
In other workshops, delegates discussed how to better engage and support women both within DiEM25 and in Europe in general. They explored the concept of Rebel Cities, and examined social and political theories on the environment, with particular reference to the ideas of the philosopher Bruno Latour.
The purpose of the Germany-wide meeting was not only to discuss and develop concrete actions, but also to allow DiEMers to network and share ideas.
 

 
One DiEM25 member commented: “At this meeting, we’ve broken new ground and advanced the dialogue on how to develop an alternative politics, not only for Germany but for Europe as a whole”.
Another said: “I came to this event in the hope of meeting and connecting with people from different cities and countries and to get some motivation, and that’s exactly what has happened.”
On Saturday evening a panel discussion took place, featuring speakers from a range of political and social movements focusing on how best to promote a progressive agenda on the European stage.
 

 
The event concluded on Sunday afternoon with the passing of an eight-point ‘Frankfurt Declaration’, the text of which will be published shortly.
A detailed report from the event will be available for members in due course.
 
Carpe DiEM!
 
DSC Frankfurt
 

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