The Omas Are Not the Problem. The Omas Are the Friendly Face. #
Who the Omas Are #
“Omas gegen Rechts” (Grandmas Against the Right) is one of Germany’s most sympathetic political movements. Founded in 2017 in Vienna by Monika Salzer, and in Germany in 2018/2019 by Anna Ohnweiler from Nagold. Older women standing up against right-wing extremism. Knitted hats, placards, rallies in wind and rain.
In Germany: a registered association (OMAS GEGEN RECHTS DEUTSCHLAND E.V.) plus numerous loose regional groups.
Anna Ohnweiler says: “We confirm that we receive no institutional funding from tax revenues or foundations.”
That’s true — almost.
Not Charitable — and Proud of It #
An important detail: the association OMAS GEGEN RECHTS DEUTSCHLAND e.V. is not recognized as a charitable organization — and has never applied for charitable status. This means: no donation receipts, no transparency requirements, no disclosure of finances.
On February 7, 2025, the association published a statement: “We are volunteers — no funding from public funds.”
What the federal government has to say about this is covered in the next section.
What the Federal Government Says #
In August 2024, the federal government responded to an inquiry from AfD MP Bernd Schattner. The figures:
- €18,000 from the federal program “Demokratie leben!” (Federal Family Ministry, Lisa Paus/Greens)
- €5,000 from the Federal Chancellery (Integration Commissioner) — to the subgroup “Omas gegen Rechts Buxtehude”
€23,000 in taxpayer money. Not much. But it contradicts the claim of “no public funds.”
The Omas explain: the money went to regional groups, not the federal association. That may be organizationally accurate — but the money came from the state and went to groups operating under the same name.
What the Press Council Says #
In 2025, WELT and BILD ran headlines: “Taxpayer Money for Street Protests” and “Government Money for Anti-Right Demos.” The Press Council reprimanded both in February 2026 — there was insufficient evidence for the claim that taxpayer money went directly to demonstrations.
The reprimand is valid: €23,000 through funding programs is not the same as “government finances protests.”
But the reprimand doesn’t change the fact: money from the state is money from the state. Whether it’s used for demos or for “project work” — it flows into an organization that acts politically.
The Same Funding Pool #
“Demokratie leben!” is the central federal program for promoting democracy and combating extremism. Among the organizations funded from this pool:
| Organization | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Omas gegen Rechts | Demos, rallies, “against the right” |
| HateAid | Digital violence counseling, advocates for stricter laws |
| Amadeu Antonio Foundation | Monitoring “right-wing” networks, reporting portals |
Three organizations. One funding pool. The same political direction.
The Joint Appeal #
In March 2025, four organizations published a joint online appeal: “Protection of Civil Society Must Be in the Coalition Agreement!” — 475,000 signatures.
The signatories:
- Campact
- foodwatch
- Amadeu Antonio Foundation
- Omas gegen Rechts
Campact is the same association that holds 33.32% of HateAid — the organization demanding mandatory real-name identification on the internet and that co-organized the Fernandes rally at the Brandenburg Gate. See our full HateAid investigation here.
The Omas sit at the table with Campact. Campact co-founded HateAid. HateAid demands real names online. The Omas probably don’t know this.
The CDU Inquiry #
In February 2025, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group submitted 551 questions about the funding of civil society organizations. These included:
- Omas gegen Rechts
- Campact
- Amadeu Antonio Foundation
- BUND
- Foodwatch
- Netzwerk Recherche
17 organizations. All in the same political spectrum. The federal government defended the funding.
The inquiry was framed by media as an “attack on civil society.” Whether the 551 questions were justified, everyone can judge for themselves. That they had to be asked says something about transparency.
Amadeu Antonio Foundation: The Connector #
The Amadeu Antonio Foundation appears everywhere:
- Actively supports Omas gegen Rechts — covered them favorably, organized their first national congress in Erfurt (August 2025)
- Is funded through “Demokratie leben!” — same funding pool as the Omas
- Co-signed the joint appeal with Campact and the Omas
- Was queried in the CDU/CSU 551-question inquiry
A foundation that is simultaneously funder, co-organizer, political ally, and co-signatory — in the same network, from the same pool.
What This Means — and What It Doesn’t #
This article does not claim that Omas gegen Rechts is a controlled organization. Most Omas are exactly what they appear to be: engaged older women worried about democracy.
This article also does not claim that €23,000 in public money is a scandal. Compared to the millions flowing into other programs, it’s a rounding error.
What this article shows:
- The claim of “no public funds” is false — €23,000 is documented
- The Omas sit in the same network as Campact and HateAid — whether knowingly or not
- The same funding pool simultaneously finances Omas, HateAid, and Amadeu Antonio
- The joint appeal connects organizations with very different goals — from knitted hats to mandatory real-name identification
The Omas are the friendly faces. The question isn’t whether they’re honest. The question is: who sits behind the other faces at the same table?
Sources #
- Wikipedia EN: Omas gegen Rechts
- SWR Kultur (06.03.2025): Fighting for Democracy — Anna Ohnweiler, founder of Omas gegen Rechts
- Lokalkompass Ratingen (10.02.2025): Sponsored by the Federal Chancellor and Green Minister: “Omas gegen rechts”: Who’s behind it?
- Weltwoche (11.02.2025): Left-wing folklore with public money: Who finances “Omas gegen rechts”?
- Focus (28.02.2025): Group of “Omas gegen Rechts” received €5,000 from the Chancellery
- Vorwärts (14.03.2025): Inquiry into Omas gegen rechts: “The CDU caused us many problems with this”
- Übermedien (06.02.2026): No government money for “Anti-Right Demos”: Press Council reprimands accusations against NGOs in “Welt” and “Bild”
- tagesschau (07.04.2025): Federal government defends state NGO funding
- Campact press release (03.03.2025): 475,000 people demand: Protection of civil society must be in the coalition agreement
- Amadeu Antonio Foundation (08.2025): Loud, determined, persistent: Omas gegen Rechts at their first national congress in Erfurt
The Omas knit. Campact plans. HateAid demands. Amadeu Antonio networks. And “Demokratie leben!” pays them all from the same pool. The Omas probably don’t know who sits at the other end of the table. Perhaps they should ask.
