German Fears Grow That Far-Right Party Will Return to National Stage

NYT ^ | November 14, 2004 | JUDY DEMPSEY

[trashcanbred]

BERLIN, Nov. 14 - After a string of electoral successes, there are growing fears that a far-right party could be elected in 2006 to Germany's Bundestag, or Parliament - the first time since World War II.

The fears have increased because of the growing support that extreme-right parties are enjoying in Eastern Germany, where the German People's Party and the more powerful and better organized National Democratic Party of Germany, or NPD, recently won 10 percent of the vote in regional state elections in Brandenburg and Saxony.

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The two rival parties have since agreed to stand on a united ticket in 2006 to increase their chances of winning 5 percent of the vote, the minimum required to get elected to the Bundestag.

Such concern took a new twist last week in Saxony, where to the dismay of the mainstream political parties, two deputies from amid their ranks voted for a NPD candidate and not for Georg Milbradt, who was seeking re-election as the state's Christian Democratic prime minister. Mr. Milbradt eventually scraped home, but without the support of two non-NPD deputies who twice voted for the NPD candidate Uwe Leichenring.

Although the ballot was secret, deputies from the mainstream parties believed the two votes cast for the NPD had come inside the CDU, which has harbored sympathizers from the extreme right.

"You can't imagine how shocked we were," said Uta Windisch, a CDU deputy. "This is a very bad signal. It is very dangerous."

Extreme-right parties have been elected for short periods to a few state parliaments in East and West Germany. But the presence of the NPD in Saxony's Parliament is the first time since the 1960's that this party has made its reappearance on the wider German political scene.

[RightWhale]

The Bavarian Freedom Party might also make a comeback.

[matchwood]

In Germany, a "far right wing" would be church-going people.

[Marauder]

growing support that extreme-right parties are enjoying in Eastern Germany

Probably because those people have a recent memory of what communism is really like as opposed to western liberals' starry-eyed visions of how "beautiful" it is.

Same thing with American liberals' fondness for Castro and his regime: He became a multi-billionaire literally on the backs of his captive population in Cuba, the very thing that they decry so much here. Yet he is a hero to liberals. Go figure.

[Cicero]

Generally speaking, the Socialists use the labels "right wing," "racist," and "extremist" in order to demonize conservative parties and make sure they share power in a center-left coalition rather than lost it to a center-right coalition. They often have only 30-40% of the vote, and need to form coalitions with the center parties to govern. They demonized Haider in Austria for that reason, and have tried unsuccessfully to do it with Berlusconi in Italy.

Given European history, there probably is a genuine danger of racism and totalitarianism. But at the moment the left seems to represent the greater threat with its disastrous economic and immigration policies.

[Kurt_D]

That's not true. German far-rightists are blatant Nationalists and Statists as well as hardcore Antisemites and Antiamericans. Yes, the NPD is truly a neonazi organization.

The party of the regular German churchgoers is the conservative CDU/CSU. There is also the PBC "Partei der bibeltreuen Christen" that gathers evangelical fundamentalists yet its political importance is negligible.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Is that true? I was thinking to myself where is the conservative party, but this is what it is?

God, those socialist bass-turds make it look like the g-men will bring back Hitler...sheeesh

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I saw post #6. Now i'm confused.

[Lukasz]

Probably because those people have a recent memory of what communism is really like as opposed to western liberals' starry-eyed visions of how "beautiful" it is.

Some of them have even nostalgia for communism, and thinks that they had better conditions of life then that they have now. This parties shouldn’t to be called “far right wing” but “far left wing” cause they are more socialistic than Schroeder.

[Bellflower]

They call everyone they don't like "right wing" for propaganda purposes. What they should call them in far "left wing". Commies, socialists and dems are left not right.

[trashcanbred]

For example Angela Merkel, chairwoman of the CDU originally supported the war in Iraq. Technically I think she still does but she was coming under political pressure to make a u-turn on it. That plus she came to the US during the tough time we had with the UN and praised Bush and said that if she were in power she would have supported Iraq.

[Kurt_D]

True. The NPD is combines rabid Naitonalism with extensive Statism.

[Doe Eyes]

Only a bunch of Liberal would fear a more right word shift in German politicds.

[ClearCase_guy]

I've said for years that in America, no one really knows what a "fascist" is. I had countless classes where wen poor student were taught about Marxism. But Fascism?! Nothing to see there! It's evil! Evil! You don't need to know why! Just know that it is unacceptable Evil!

I imagine most people think there is scant difference between a fascist and an anti-semite. But when the day comes that a Fascist is knocking on the door in Europe or in the US -- how will we know? It's been "illegal" to mention the details of Fascist ideology for about 60 years.

[buffyt]

They NEED to worry about the far left party, since NAZI stands for National SOCIALIST Party = Democrat/Liberal/Socialism/Communism.....

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

thanks, that helps set the stage. I'll keep reading posts too, that usually gets all the info we need sooner or later.


K4

[drtom]

Kurt_D is right. There is nothing funny about the NDP and their cohorts. This has nothing to do with conservatism or republicanism. It is straight nazi-ism. White supremacy, Arian slogans, skinheads, torch processions and all the "good" stuff.

[Kurt_D]

HERE'S AN EXPLANATION OF THE GERMAN "RIGHT-WING" FOR ALL OF YOU:

The CDU/CSU is a conservative party that strongly supports the free market while embracing Christian values. It's counterpart in the USA is the moderate wing of the Republican party. Overall its members are very sympathetic towards America and they do support the campaign against Islamic fundamentalism.

The FDP is a group of libertarians and free-marketeers. Its American counterpart would be the Libertarian Party. Needless to say, they are also very sympathetic towards America although there is a vivid discussion on how to deal with Islamic terrorism and dictatorships.

The REP (Die Republikaner) is a hardcore conservative party with strong sense of Patriotism and a certain nostalgia for Prussian values. Its American counterpart would be the Constitution Party.

The NPD - as stated before - is a openly Neonazi organization. It is NATIONALIST and STATISTS as well as highly racist and antisemitic. This is - IMHO - NOT a right-wing party, but that's the way the liberal media categorizes it.

The DVU is a NATIONALIST party with a millionaire as its sole leader. It has started to work together with the NPD.

[drtom]

NPD, that is.

[dr_who_2]

I think that's because they weren't allowed to fully scare off neighboring European countries, alienate coalition members and the voting public, and generally embarrass and re-marginalize themselves a few years back so that voters might give the center-right another look and the center-right might get its priorities straight. Now the fascist-leaning parties are taking advantage of events and gaining politically.