German political parties and elections

[Laocoon]

Barly crowned, on vacation yet... Talks with Jacques Chirac? I really wonder what they can tell each other.

[Aeternitas]

Merkel hints at support for Blair over economic reform of Europe

By Andrew Grice, Philip Thornton and Stephen Castle

Published: 25 November 2005

Angela Merkel, the new German Chancellor, has put her country's relationship with Britain on an equal footing with its traditionally strong axis with France. In a break with 40 years of tradition, Ms Merkel told a Downing Street press conference after two hours of talks with Mr Blair: "The new German government has a great interest in good and friendly relations toward France, but not just with France but equally so with Great Britain."

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article329182.ece

[Laocoon]

Sounds like you're friends again with the Yankees.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Agrippa

Agreed. But just for the value of the truth I wouldnt call anybody a Jew if he is none even if he would behave like the negative stereotype of a Jew.

Fine. He is not a Jew but..

B’nai Brith Canada to Honour Frank Stronach, Chairman, Magna International Inc.

According to Israel Consul-General Ya’akov Brosh, who presented a magnificent kiddush cup to Stronach on behalf of B’nai Brith Canada, Frank Stronach played a key role in the development of the University of Haifa, and founded the university’s Stronach Centre for the Development of Peace. In his acceptance speech, Stronach declared: “Israel is a bastion of freedom in a very hostile environment. We must do more to support Israel.”

http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050922-01.html

More on Haider and friends.

Joerg Haider\'s Canadian friends

[...]

Why Canada?

Asked by reporters why he had chosen Canada for his first foreign visit since the Freedom's Party's controversial entry into government, Haider said he had been invited to a Tash Hasidic wedding in a Montreal suburb. But a spokesman for the Jewish sect denied having issued Haider an invitation, and in the end the Freedom Party leader did not attend the wedding.

The real reason for Haider's choice of Canada likely had something to do with his having a number of influential Canadian friends and apologists.

Frank Stronach, the Austrian-born industrialist who owns Canada's largest auto parts company, Magna International, has close ties to all Austria's major political parties, including the Freedom Party. According to Haider, Stronach is “interested in all parties because he is a global player.” The Freedom Party nominee for the post of Finance Minister in the coalition government, Karl-Heinz Grasser, was until earlier this month the chief spokesman for Magna International in Austria.

Canadian newspaper baron Conrad Black has been campaigning in support of Haider. On successive days last week his chief British mouthpiece, the Daily Telegraph, ran commentaries arguing that Haider should not be ostracized by international public opinion. The first written by Black's wife, Barbara Amiel, said Haider was the victim of a campaign of “political hysteria” mounted by the Socialist International. The second, entitled “Let's not be beastly to the Austrians,” was penned by Lord George Wiedenfeld, a Viennese Jew who found refuge in Britain in 1938 and now sits on the board of directors of one of Black's companies.

[Aeternitas]

New German government opens up to Israel

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Aeternitas

New German government opens up to Israel

Hopefully not influenced by the recent suggestion coming from Iran..

I've come to the conclusion that politicians are a mixture between criminal dregs and profound retards. You can expect anything.

[Menydh]

Russian gas job for Schröder

Times Online
December 10, 2005

GERHARD SCHRÖDER, the former German Chancellor, is exploiting his personal relationship with President Putin by taking on a leading role with Gazprom, the Russian energy company.

The move was announced yesterday by Alexei Miller, the Gazprom chairman, as he opened a new Russian-German gas pipeline, but has yet to be confirmed by Herr Schröder.

His reticence is understandable. Gazprom’s pressure on East European states has been growing and the EU is becoming deeply dependent on the company’s gas supplies.

The management of Gazprom is very close to Mr Putin, whom the former Chancellor befriended during his seven years in office.

Herr Schröder, 61, is determined to boost his pension with business contracts. He is already signed up as a consultant to Ringier, a Swiss company. Reports suggest that he will earn about £300,000 a year from them, but the Gazprom position is likely to pay more.


[source]

[Aeternitas]

German Chancellor Merkel to Visit Israel in January

Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Israel in late January to lend support to the Jewish state after a series of inflammatory verbal attacks from Iran's hardline president.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...824650,00.html

[Aeternitas]

German Government Agency Helps NPD Member Quit Party

A far-right NPD faction member in the Saxony state parliament has resigned from his party with the assistance of the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Mirko Schmidt, one of 12 state parliamentarians the far-right party could boast in Saxony, cited the NPD's abandonment of democratic principles as his reason for quitting the party.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...829294,00.html

[Aeternitas]

Second NPD State Parliamentarian Quits Far-Right Party

A second far-right NPD faction member in the Saxony state parliament has resigned from his party with the assistance of the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...829294,00.html

[Menydh]

Schmidt, who was extracted from the NPD with the assistance of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, cited the NPD's abandonment of democratic principles as his reason for quitting the party.

... and how is THIS "democratic"?

The president of the government agency, Rainer Stock, told reporters that Schmidt had approached the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and had asked about possible protective measures as he considered leaving the extremist party.

Stock added that he hoped that Schmidt's decision would send a positive signal to any NPD members considering the same move and that any wanting to leave the party would get the same level of support.

This pledge was reiterated by Saxony's Minister of the Interior Albrecht Buttolo.

They are dealing with a party with democratic representation as if it was a sect, and pressing on its people to abandon it (aka "send a positive signal.. ").

This is indecent!

[Laocoon]

... They've received pression or what?

Originally Posted by Mynydd

They are dealing with a party with democratic representation as if it was a sect, and pressing on its people to abandon it (aka "send a positive signal.. ").

A sect or a pathology. That's my impression.

[Aeternitas]

Debate Reopens on Merging Germany's States

A regional Social Democratic leader has reignited debate about reducing the number of the country’s 16 federal states. The idea is backed by economists, but opposed by policy makers in both east and west.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...838519,00.html

[Siegmund]

German State Elections Keep Premiers in Place
Germany | 26.03.2006

Oettinger, Böhmer and Beck all were re-elected as state premiers

Conservatives and Social Democrats held on to power in three German state polls Sunday, signaling good news for Chancellor Angela Merkel's grand coalition.

Merkel's Christian Democrats held on to power in Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt in Sunday's voting while the Social Democrats maintained their dominance in Rhineland-Palatinate.

About one-fifth of the national electorate was called to the polls on the rare "Super Sunday" of elections.

The outcome allowed both the conservatives and the Social Democrats to walk away celebrating, and maintain their delicate balance of power under Merkel.

"It was a victory for Angela Merkel and the grand coalition in Berlin," said the conservatives' parliamentary group leader, Volker Kauder.

[More]