# Why I have left Ave Europa I have left Ave Europa. It was not an easy decision, but the only right one to make. For too long have I publicly represented and spoken for a movement, that has in the last few weeks rapidly drifted away from what I can reconcile with my own democratic convictions and values. Dishonest people are currently spreading lies about the reasons for my departure; while the remaining leaders at Ave Europa are accelerating its transformation into a kind of entity I want not be associated with. Therefore, I am compelled to explain in this public statement the reasons behind my decision to not only step down as spokesperson of Ave Europa, but also to leave and denounce the movement I have spent so much time, capital and energy building full-time for the past months. While I am usually not one to air dirty laundry in public, these circumstances and the fact that I have acted as the de facto public face of Ave Europa, make a public statement from me a necessity for my personal honor and are more importantly in the publics best interest. Nevertheless, I will not engage in cheap ad hominems or foul mudplay, disinformation or other demagoguery. I am a philosopher by training and conviction, not an opportunistic sophist and demagogue. Therefore I will for now not go into details that do not belong into the public sphere nor will I single out individual actors. I will give you the important big picture of the events that have unfolded and led to my decision: At the beginning and for the most time Ave Europa was a united front of different people from across the liberal center to right wing political spectrum; from former Liberal Democrats like myself to more conservative and right wing forces; glued together by the joined vision of a united Europe, that is sovereign, competitive and confident. The vision many in Ave Europa shared, I have outlined together with Octavian Posta in an guest article for the german magazine that has been named after one of my intellectual heroes - Cicero. You can read an english translation of our article, outlining a vision of an united democratic Federal Republic of Europe inspired by Switzerland for free here as [[The Old World Order is Dying – and Europe with It?]] or [here.](https://substack.com/@nikodemskrobisz/note/p-186854472?r=4j81mk) This democratic vision grounded in the european heritage of democratic republicanism was unfortunately not shared by everyone within Ave Europa; most notably, not by everyone who has managed to sneak over time into key internal positions of power and influence. Central organs of Ave Europa have become infiltrated and/or radicalised by far right forces, that started in January 2026 to systemically expel, bully and marginalise more moderate and liberal individuals and to push for the adoption of more radical positioning, infantile populism and identitarian ideological elements like ethnoculturalism. As someone who has been active in politics for many years, studied philosophy and has worked in PR and Marketing a lot, I am used to disagreement and also representing organisations publicly I do not completely agree with. I even created advertisement for alcoholic beverages - despite being a teetotaler (though I do enjoy alcohol free wine, as it makes me aesthetically feel like a postmodern philosopher without turning me mentally into one). But I cannot and will never represent ideals and methods, that violate basic human decency or are anti-democratic, that I cannot reconcile with my own firm liberal and democratic believes. I will never represent or try to justify a movement publicly, that violates these values. Ave Europa has sadly rapidly turned into a movement that does; that has been infiltrated by people, that engage dumb populism and have hard right views incompatible with the achievements of european civilisation - some of them, as I learned only after my resignation, even believe that Europe would be better of if Germany had won World War II. The publicly most visible red line was crossed for me, when against my opposition AfD & FPÖ politicians were invited as guest speakers to the planned Ave Europa General Assembly on Castle Ortenberg. I thought it should be obvious to everyone with at least a bit of basic strategic thinking, that one cannot save and unite european democracy, by fraternising with nationalist demagogues. The invitation of these AfD and FPÖ politicians has happened initially behind my back weeks ago. I was not informed nor consulted initially, while promises were made by another Ave Europa leader to those people to have them at the event. When their invitation was finally brought up for discussion at the recent Ave Europa leadership summit at the Black Forest, I was outvoted and the invitation was made official. In this moment I realised, how deep the infiltration and radicalisation had progressed; how far the anti-democratic cancer had already spread. Measures to reverse it turned out to be futile due to Ave Europas legal structure; so my conscience lead me to only one decision: to leave. This decision was not an easy one. For the past year, I have basically lived for Ave Europa. Have slept under its flag. Have represented it in podcasts. Have travelled across the continent to meet many awesome, intelligent and decent people. The majority of the members of Ave Europa are decent democratic citizens, but the leadership structures especially in Germany and on the international level have in my opinion been corrupted by far right influence beyond repair. No matter how much I loved Ave Europa, it is no longer what it was a few months ago. From a noble pursuit to unite Europe, it has turned into a sickness. And no matter how much one loves a pet project - if it becomes rabid, the only merciful and responsible thing to do, is to put it down. As I have been acting as the public face of the movement and spokesperson of our board, I handed in my resignation in protest, as I cannot reconcile the trajectory Ave Europa has now pivoted towards with my own firm liberal democratic convictions, nor can I represent that with my name and face. I personally do not believe, that Ave Europa has a (successful) future anymore. Most of the people that I would consider decent, well educated, intelligent and virtuous have left in the past weeks or are now preparing their departure from Ave Europa. Many like me, that want to maintain a _cordon sanitaire_ against illiberal and nationalist forces have now renounced their membership in Ave Europa as I did. It seems that entire chapters are heading for secession or dissolvment; several chairmans of national chapters have notified me of their intended resignation. We will remain active in paneuropean politics, but we will now regroup and reorient ourself. I have talked with many former and current Ave Europa members, journalists, thinktanks, movements, initiatives and established partys in the last few days. Ave Europa may have failed, but from it ashes many new, more beautiful initiatives shall rise and blossom. Our activism for a united Europe rooted deeply in its civillisational achievements like democracy, has only began.