'Taboo broken' as far right becomes German state kingmaker

[webfact]

'Taboo broken' as far right becomes German state kingmaker

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, February 5, 2020. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German state premier was elected with the support of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Wednesday, shattering the post-war consensus among established parties of shunning the far right.

 

Thomas Kemmerich, a little-known liberal Free Democrat (FDP), became the first state premier elected with the support of the AfD, with whom Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) sided to the disgust of her national coalition partners.

 

The CDU and all the other established parties have previously ostracized the AfD over what they say are racist views held by some of its members.

 

Merkel's Social Democrat (SPD) national coalition allies accused her CDU of backtracking on a pledge never to cooperate with a far-right party. The CDU rejected the accusation, saying it was not responsible for how AfD lawmakers voted. Wednesday's ballot was secret.

 

"The events in Thuringia break a taboo in the history of political democracy in the Federal Republic," SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz tweeted. "Very serious questions arise for us with the CDU's federal leadership."

 

CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said her party's national leadership opposed both cooperating with the AfD and joining a Kemmerich-led state cabinet. "The best thing would be for voters in Thuringia to have new elections," she added.

 

The SPD is unlikely to ditch Merkel's national coalition over the vote in Thuringia but the center-left party said its supporters would hold a protest outside the CDU headquarters in Berlin.

 

"The vote on the new premier minister in the state of Thuringia marks a new milestone in German politics and bears the potential of more shockwaves in national politics," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

 

Kemmerich won 45-44 against Bodo Ramelow, the outgoing premier of The Left party. Ramelow's leftist coalition failed to secure a majority in an October regional election.

 

Kemmerich, whose FDP is the smallest party in the regional assembly, said he would launch talks with the CDU, SPD and Greens on forming a government.

 

SPD national leader Norbert Walter-Borjans spoke of an "unforgivable dam burst, triggered by the CDU and FDP".

 

(Writing by Paul Carrel and Joseph Nasr; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-06

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[Deli]

Anyone surprised ? A Government who is cheating that much in his people needs to be removed. And this is a 1st step.

[RichardColeman]

Still a long way from Germany voting to leave the EU !

[IAMHERE]

Where would Germany be now if it wasn't for that bad leader ? Was he neo-right, far right, right, or just not right ?  Such a spectrum for so rich a country that came about because of the results of WW1.

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, Deli said:

Anyone surprised ? A Government who is cheating that much in his people needs to be removed. And this is a 1st step.

Actually in most of Germany the AFD has stalled. The big news is the rise of the Greens.

[wombat]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Wednesday's ballot was secret.

and even blind Freddy could see who voted what?

[tlandtday]

The sooner Merkel goes the better.  She is a communist raised in East Germany and her father was an ardent communist who actually went to East Germany during the cold war.  No wonder Germany is in such a mess right now.  What fools keep electing her?

[Saint Nick]

3 hours ago, Deli said:

Anyone surprised ? A Government who is cheating that much in his people needs to be removed. And this is a 1st step.

Cheating in his people!

Care to elaborate?

[Saint Nick]

18 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

The sooner Merkel goes the better.  She is a communist raised in East Germany and her father was an ardent communist who actually went to East Germany during the cold war.  No wonder Germany is in such a mess right now.  What fools keep electing her?

You have no idea what a "communist" even is, so better don't go on, making a fool of yourself!

More, than you already did!

[bristolboy]

3 hours ago, tlandtday said:

The sooner Merkel goes the better.  She is a communist raised in East Germany and her father was an ardent communist who actually went to East Germany during the cold war.  No wonder Germany is in such a mess right now.  What fools keep electing her?

 

3 hours ago, Saint Nick said:

You have no idea what a "communist" even is, so better don't go on, making a fool of yourself!

More, than you already did!

Maybe by "communist" tlandtday means anyone who heads a government that consistently spends less than it takes in? Those evil, thrifty communists!

Edited February 6, 2020 by bristolboy

[UnkleGoooose]

Just to clarify this for a few people new to the Reuters liberal bile: far right = Conservative/center; racist = either patriotic and/or not part of the common purpose group think.

[Saint Nick]

7 minutes ago, UnkleGoooose said:

Just to clarify this for a few people new to the Reuters liberal bile: far right = Conservative/center; racist = either patriotic and/or not part of the common purpose group think.

Here is a wake up call, for all, who drifted so far to the right, that fascists are now somehow the new center: the AfD is a neo-nazi party and it and it's members are oficilally allowed to be called that!

Shame on you!

[Logosone]

5 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Here is a wake up call, for all, who drifted so far to the right, that fascists are now somehow the new center: the AfD is a neo-nazi party and it and it's members are oficilally allowed to be called that!

Shame on you!

Obviously the AfD is NOT a neo-nazi party, or it would be banned under Germany's strict anti-Nazi laws.

 

In fact the AfD did a great service to the people of Thuringia, who were ruled by a bona-fide Communist from Die Linke, a nutcase communist party, in helping to remove Bodo Ramelow. With the new FDP main man the Thuringians will prosper at last.

[sawadee1947]

4 hours ago, tlandtday said:

The sooner Merkel goes the better.  She is a communist raised in East Germany and her father was an ardent communist who actually went to East Germany during the cold war.  No wonder Germany is in such a mess right now.  What fools keep electing her?

Absolutely BS. 

A fool who calls Merkel a commumist. 

Born in Hamburg went with parents (father protestant pastor) to East Germany, where her father worked for the Church.

She is Germany's very popular  leader with high reputation in the World. 

[Saint Nick]

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

Obviously the AfD is NOT a neo-nazi party, or it would be banned under Germany's strict anti-Nazi laws.

 

In fact the AfD did a great service to the people of Thuringia, who were ruled by a bona-fide Communist from Die Linke, a nutcase communist party, in helping to remove Bodo Ramelow. With the new FDP main man the Thuringians will prosper at last.

Oh, obviously!

The AfD did a great service to exactly no- one and if you are so well versed in German law, you also probably think, the NPD is not a ne nazi- party, because they are also not banned (yet) under the "strict" anti- nazi laws!

 

[Saint Nick]

1 hour ago, sawadee1947 said:

Absolutely BS. 

A fool who calls Merkel a commumist. 

Born in Hamburg went with parents (father protestant pastor) to East Germany, where her father worked for the Church.

She is Germany's very popular  leader with high reputation in the World. 

Aaaaah...you and your facts!

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, Saint Nick said:

Oh, obviously!

The AfD did a great service to exactly no- one and if you are so well versed in German law, you also probably think, the NPD is not a ne nazi- party, because they are also not banned (yet) under the "strict" anti- nazi laws!

 

Thuringia was cursed with years of communist rule by TheLinke, the AfD did a wonderful thing in freeing Thuringia from utterly nutty communist jokers.

 

If you think a neo-nazi party would be legal in Germany you are hallucinating. And no the NPD is not neo-nazi anymore.

[overherebc]

6 hours ago, bristolboy said:

 

Maybe by "communist" tlandtday means anyone who heads a government that consistently spends less than it takes in? Those evil, thrifty communists!

I always thought a communist was someone who had nothing but would love to share equally with you.

[bristolboy]

30 minutes ago, overherebc said:

I always thought a communist was someone who had nothing but would love to share equally with you.

Apparently, tlandtday disagrees with you. Take it up with him.

[uesnyc]

Shaky McShakerson

[bendejo]

Not auspicious for the likes of the EU.

 

 

[daveAustin]

21 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Still a long way from Germany voting to leave the EU !

I dunno. Along with froggy-land (am I allowed to say that in this ridiculous don't hurt me today world), there's a ton of discontent there. 

[Sydebolle]

Please mark my words "The writing is on the wall".

Germany lost WW1 and WW2. The Germany won Europe without firing a bullet until Brexit came and they lost again, as the Brits (understandable) had it. 

Merkel and her cronies now have to face yet another set of music notes. Where to get the missing UK contribution of 10+ billions of Euros? Her puppet in Brussels, Von der Leyen, did not create too much damage as minister for family affairs. Being the (no need to elect) president of the European commission was considered "good riddance" by the Germans who could offload the lady to foreign shores as her last posting as minister of defence created everything between chuckles and complete confusion. 

The far right wing party AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) was not in political existence a few years ago. The latest bigger election resulted in them leaving the stage with 13% (one in eight) of the votes. 

 

Merkel does not get the pension schemes and the social coverage for her own (German) people right yet takes down all the borders for millions of (un-)skilled labour and future (non-)tax payers; latter having no intention whatsoever to contribute to the German GDP, to integrate and to make Germany their (new) home as most of them are asylum chancers and social welfare leeches. All blessed, confirmed and supported (if not regulated or even instructed) by the gnoms in Brussels. 

If the hammering on Germans and the German industry goes on, we will be seeing them triggering off WW3. This time round though it would vent their spleen on domestic politics in the first place but as their "leaders" are sceriwng around on an European scale, it will be a oneway ticket to the next impact. At fault, this time, will be those who run Europe completely against European interests. 

I am not European, not German, but I would be more than frustrated with such leadership and would push for locking the whole bunch up and make sure that I would lose the key! 

[Saint Nick]

17 hours ago, Logosone said:

Thuringia was cursed with years of communist rule by TheLinke, the AfD did a wonderful thing in freeing Thuringia from utterly nutty communist jokers.

 

If you think a neo-nazi party would be legal in Germany you are hallucinating. And no the NPD is not neo-nazi anymore.

Oh...okay!

Any discussion with you ends right...now!

[Saint Nick]

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Please mark my words "The writing is on the wall".

Germany lost WW1 and WW2. The Germany won Europe without firing a bullet until Brexit came and they lost again, as the Brits (understandable) had it. 

Merkel and her cronies now have to face yet another set of music notes. Where to get the missing UK contribution of 10+ billions of Euros? Her puppet in Brussels, Von der Leyen, did not create too much damage as minister for family affairs. Being the (no need to elect) president of the European commission was considered "good riddance" by the Germans who could offload the lady to foreign shores as her last posting as minister of defence created everything between chuckles and complete confusion. 

The far right wing party AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) was not in political existence a few years ago. The latest bigger election resulted in them leaving the stage with 13% (one in eight) of the votes. 

 

Merkel does not get the pension schemes and the social coverage for her own (German) people right yet takes down all the borders for millions of (un-)skilled labour and future (non-)tax payers; latter having no intention whatsoever to contribute to the German GDP, to integrate and to make Germany their (new) home as most of them are asylum chancers and social welfare leeches. All blessed, confirmed and supported (if not regulated or even instructed) by the gnoms in Brussels. 

If the hammering on Germans and the German industry goes on, we will be seeing them triggering off WW3. This time round though it would vent their spleen on domestic politics in the first place but as their "leaders" are sceriwng around on an European scale, it will be a oneway ticket to the next impact. At fault, this time, will be those who run Europe completely against European interests. 

I am not European, not German, but I would be more than frustrated with such leadership and would push for locking the whole bunch up and make sure that I would lose the key! 

You are also not very knowledgeable...

[nausea]

Have you met any Germans? It's in their blood.

[losworld]

1 minute ago, nausea said:

Have you met any Germans? It's in their blood.

I have met many but I guess your name aptly describes such an ignorant post.

[losworld]

On 2/6/2020 at 11:08 AM, Saint Nick said:

You have no idea what a "communist" even is, so better don't go on, making a fool of yourself!

More, than you already did!

No he is correct if you want to see communism Russian style that Merkel was essentially raised under do some homework than you will not look so stupid.  Do you understand what Lenin and Stalin really implemented in the Soviet union?

[Saint Nick]

7 minutes ago, nausea said:

Have you met any Germans? It's in their blood.

I am German!

It's not in my blood, that's for sure!

And I know many!

It's not in theirs, too!

[Saint Nick]

2 minutes ago, losworld said:

No he is correct if you want to see communism Russian style that Merkel was essentially raised under do some homework than you will not look so stupid.  Do you understand what Lenin and Stalin really implemented in the Soviet union?

You do understand, that the political term "communism" or "socialism" were neither coined nor lived in the USSR or GDR or North Korea etc, right ?!

Just because you call a cow a racehorse, will make it win the Kentucky Derby!

And by the way: also, being brought up in the GDR or USSR (or else...) makes you a socialist or a communist.

Neither does it make you a democrat or capitalist, being brought up in West- Germany or the USA (etc).

Again: a cow, being brought up in a horse- sty...and so forth...