Pegida movement on verge of total implosion as five of its leading members resign in disgust due to fears of being taken over by Germany’s far right

‘Germany’s anti-Islamic Pegida movement is in tatters after five of its leading members resigned in disgust, fearing it would be hijacked by the extreme right. They announced plans to set up a more moderate rival “direct democracy” protest group.

Pegida’s demise was as sudden as it was dramatic: earlier this month the populist movement, which is an acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against Islamisation of the West, shocked German mainstream parties when a record 25,000 supporters flocked to one of its regular Monday demonstrations in the eastern city of Dresden.’

Read more: Pegida movement on verge of total implosion as five of its leading members resign in disgust due to fears of being taken over by Germany's far right