#GERMANY: AfD Party Wins Big in Thuringia State Elections

[world politics news] 

The AfD Party has emerged as the clear victor in Thuringia, in the east of the country, securing almost a third of the vote. It was the first state won by the anti-immigrant party.

The Alternative For Germany Party was l9 points ahead of the center-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which garnered around 24%, and far ahead of Germany's three governing parties.

In neighboring Saxony, it finished only just behind the CDU, which leads the national opposition.

The election outcomes underscore a deepening discontent with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's left-leaning  government, which has been mired in unpopularity and internal conflicts.

[FULL STORY HERE] WARNING: BIAS

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Far-Right Parties In Turmoil Ahead of EU Elections

[world politics news]

Infighting among some of Europe’s most prominent far-right parties has thrown pre-election campaigning into turmoil, threatening to tarnish a parliamentary vote that was supposed to see the ultra-conservative groups make major gains.

France's Marine Le Pen on Wednesday said her National Rally, or RN, would break ties with the Alternative for Germany after the AfD’s lead candidate, Maximilian Krah. said that not all members of the Nazi SS paramilitary organization were criminals.

In a further blow to the embattled German party, the Identity and Democracy alliance in the European Parliament, which includes RN, expelled the AfD after a vote among its members, ID said in a Thursday statement on the social media site X.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

GERMANY: Right-Leaning Party Leader Found Guilty of Sedition After Citing Gov't Stats on Afghan Rapes

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The Verden regional court confirms a judgment against Rotenburg  district Alternative for Germany leader Marie-Thérèse Kaiser. She was found guilty of sedition because she is said to have stirred up hatred against Afghan local staff.

Although judge Heiko Halbfas did not accept the defense’s request to call Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to the witness stand, it took almost seven hours on Monday until he announced the verdict: Rotenburg AfD district leader Marie-Thérèse Kaiser has was guilty of incitement when she linked Afghan local Bundeswehr staff to gang rape in a social media post almost three years ago.

“Anyone who attacks human dignity cannot invoke freedom of expression.” said Halbfas. 

Kaiser warned of “culturally alien masses”

In August 2021, a few weeks before the federal election, Kaiser wrote on a so-called tile on her social media accounts: “Afghanistan refugees; Hamburg SPD mayor for ‘unbureaucratic’ admission; Welcoming culture for gang rape?”

[FULL STORY HERE] (in German)

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Politician On Trial For Using Nazi Slogan At Rally

[world politics news]

Germany (AfD) party in the state of Thuringia, Björn Höcke, will face trial for his alleged use of a banned Nazi slogan.

The use of Nazi symbols or propaganda outside educational and historical contexts is banned in Germany.

It is alleged that Höcke knowingly used a motto of the SA, the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party, at a speech in May 2021.

The accusation is that he ended his speech with the phrase "Everything for Germany," knowing that this phrase was forbidden as one often used by the SA.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Merkel's CDU Wins Big In Saxony-Anhalt State Election

[world politics news]

Germany's center-right ruling party has fended off a challenge by the anti-immigrant Right in the last regional test before a national election in September, partial results show. 

The Christian Democrats (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel won 37% of the vote in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in the former East Germany. The Alternative for Germany Party took just 21%.

The Chancellor's beleaguered party did much better than opinion polls had predicted.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Gov't Uses Spy Agency To Spy On Opposition Party

[world politics news]

The populist party Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland/AfD) is to be spied on by Germany’s intelligence agency under suspicion of posing a threat to democracy, according to media reports.

The Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) spy agency is now able by law to monitor the phones of AfD members and spy on its activities as a suspected extreme rightwing organisation

The party argues the decision could affect its chances in the autumn federal elections. It is currently the largest opposition party in parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Merkel's Party Suffers Losses In Hamburg City Election; Behind Greens

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's embattled Christian-Democratic Union Party (CDU) suffered its worst loss ever in the left-leaning German city of Hamburg, sliding to third place behind the Greens.

The Social-Democrats (SPD) remained the strongest party in Hamburg with a 39.1% share of the votes, despite losing 8%.

Merkel's CDU only garnered 11.2% of the vote, representing a drop of 4.7% from the last election. CDU conceded second place in the city to the Greens, who seem to have grabbed the combined losses of the aforementioned two parties, almost doubling their share of the vote to 24.2% in the city-state.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Merkel's Designated Successor Quits After Election Controversy

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's designated successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, says she will quit her role as head of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) following a regional election controversy.

The party recently came under heavy criticism after electing a governor in the eastern state of Thuringia with the help of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party.

The CDU's choice for governor of Thuringia, Thomas Kemmerich, won his position only after  AlternativeFor Germany swung it support towards him in the state's legislature.

Kramp-Karrenbauer had come under pressure in recent days over her inability to get the local CDU branch to follow Berlin's guidance not to cooperate with the AfD, exposing deep divisions within the party. She now says she has no desire to become Chancellor after Merkel resigns. She had been Merkel's hand-picked successor.

Merkel, among others, expressed outrage that the anti-immigrant party has supported its candidate. Kemmerich quickly resigned and called for a new election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Anti-Merkel Populists Make Gains In Two State Elections

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's hold on power was dealt a huge blow when support for her conservatives and Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners bled support to the far right in two state elections - a double blow to her already unstable ruling alliance.

Merkel's Christian Democrats remained the largest party in Saxony, but saw their share of the vote drop by 7.4 points from the 2014 election to 32% with the populist Alternative for Germany Party almost tripling it's vote and coming in second.

The AfD harnessed voter anger over refugees and the planned closure of coal mines in the eastern states.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Populist Parties Form "European Alliance of Peoples and Nations" Group To Contest EU Elections

[world politics news]

Italy’s Matteo Salvini has formally launched his much-anticipated bid to unite European right-leaning populist parties ahead of EU elections in May. "We want to reform Europe," he declared during a press conference at a swanky hotel in central Milan. "For many people, the EU is a nightmare, not a dream," said the Italian interior minister and deputy prime minister.

Salvini's League Party in Italy has teamed up with Germany's populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, whose leader and currently the group’s only Member of the European Parliament, Jörg Meuthen was by his side. Also at the table were representatives from the Danish People's Party and the Finns Party of Finland, who are for now the only other confirmed members. The new group will be called European Alliance of Peoples and Nations (EAPN), Meuthen said, and is open to "anyone for whom conservatism and patriotism are important."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Populist Leaders Attack Merkel And Macron's French-German Treaty As A Surrender Of Sovereignty

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Populist leaders in Germany and France are attacking the Treaty of Aachen signed yesterday as a surrender of sovereignty for both nations. The treaty, which will "twin" their two economies, militaries and even political systems was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Both hailed the treaty as a reaffirmation of the European Union, but some see in it a reassertion of Germany and France as the major superpowers within the EU. According to Merkel, the agreement is a step towards a common European army, which sets off alarm bells for many. It also appears to be a virtual economic, social and political merger of the two nations.

The treaty represents nothing short of "high treason,"  said French Euroskeptic Member of European Parliament Bernard Monot. Macron’s true aim is to deliver "Alsace and Lothringen, Judas-like, to the foreign power," said Monot. The leader of France’s National Rally, Marine Le Pen, accused Macron of "an act that borders on treason." She said the treaty opens the door to forcing children in France's border regions to speak German at school.

Alternative for Germany Party leader Alexander Gauland said Merkel and Macron are trying to create "A Super-EU" within the European Union. "We populists insist that both take care of their own country first."

[FULL STORY HERE AND HERE AND HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: New Party Breaks Away From "Alternative For Germany" Party; Claims It's "Shifted To The Left"

[world politics news]

A German politician has left the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany Party to set up a new party after accusing AfD of a "shift to the Left." André Poggenburg resigned from his post as the AfD’s regional leader in eastern Saxony-Anhalt state last year after labeling Turkish immigrants “camel drivers” and immigrants with dual nationality a “homeless mob we no longer want." He announced his resignation from the party in an email sent to the leadership earlier this week. His new party Aufbruch der deutschen Patrioten (Awakening of German Patriots) will use a cornflower against the background of a German flag. Opponents note that the flower was used by Austrian Nazis before World War II.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Chairman Of Anti-Migrant Party Brutally Attacked; Police Seek Three Hooded Attackers

[world politics news]

Frank Magnitz, chairman of the city of Bremen’s Alternative For Germany Party, was left with a gaping wound in his head after he was reportedly knocked unconscious by three attackers Monday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel led the condemnations of the attack, which was labeled as an assassination attempt by party officials. The AfD party is the official opposition in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Merkel's Party And Social Democrats Lose Ground In Bavarian Election; Anti-Migrant Party Makes Huge Gains

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union Party, are heading for their worst state election result in 60 years, losing their majority and gaining just 35.5 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results of the German region's elections. The Social Democratic Party also lost ground. Meanwhile, the Anti-Immigration Alternative For Germany Party won seats in the region's parliament for the first time, and even the Green Party made gains. The results could further weaken Merkel's coalition and its hold on its ruling majority in the European nation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Poll Shows Anti-Migrant Party Alternative For Germany, Now Ranked Ahead Of Ruling Coalition Partner

[world politics news]

Germany's populist Alternative for Germany Party, which has strongly opposed Chancellor Angela Merkel's open migration policy, has overtaken the co-ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in voter popularity to become the second-strongest party behind Merkel's conservatives, according to a recent poll. The AfD moved up 2% since the last survey on September 9, bringing it to 18% - 1% more than the junior coalition partner SPD, which lost a point. Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, which has led German governments since 2005, also slipped a point to 28%, its worst result since the survey was launched in 1997.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Alternative For Germany Party Says Merkel Gov't "Covering Up" Mass Entrants Of Migrants By Plane, Violating EU Law

[world politics news]

The Alternative For Germany Party has accused the German government of covering up an "outrageous scandal" in which would-be asylum seekers are freely allowed to board planes within Europe in order to go and claim asylum in Germany. Migrants entering Germany by plane from another European country would violate the EU’s Dublin Agreement, which states that asylum seekers must claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in. The party obtained figures from the German Interior Ministry, showing nearly a third of all asylum seekers in Germany now arrive by plane. In 2017, Germany registered 186,000 new asylum cases

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Alt. For Germany Party Leader Takes Merkel To Task For Treatment Of UK During Brexit

[world politics news]

Alice Weidel, the leader of the Alternative For Germany Party, delivered a scathing attack on Angela Merkel during a session of the Bundestag after the Chancellor threatened to punish Britain over Brexit. Express. The parliamentary speech also tore into Merkel for using taxpayer money to fund her "failed" EU project. Weidel slammed Merkel for her treatment of Britain and ordered her to stop sending threats to the country to punish Brexit.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Lawmaker May Face Prosecution For "Incitement" Over Anti-Muslim Tweet

[world politics news]

A prominent lawmaker with the nationalist and anti-Islam Alternative for Germany party has run into trouble with police and Twitter over her response to a Cologne police tweet offering New Year greetings in Arabic. Beatrix von Storch tweeted her objections to Saturday's tweet, saying: "Do they think they will calm the barbaric, Muslim, group-raping hordes of men this way?" Von Storch's Twitter account was blocked for several hours Monday over a suspected breach of rules on hate speech. Police Tuesday filed a criminal complaint to prosecutors over suspected incitement. New Year celebrations in Cologne were overshadowed two years ago when hundreds of women complained of being groped and robbed, mostly by groups of migrants.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Anti-Immigrant AfD Party Enters Parliament, Proclaims "New Era" In Germany, Invokes Goering

[world politics news]

The far-right Alternative For Germany Party vowed a “new era” as it made its debut yesterday at the first sitting of Germany’s newly-elected parliament, where it immediately sparked an outcry by comparing itself to an MP once targeted by Nazi Hermann Goering. The party filed a motion to challenge a change in parliamentary rules that thwarted one of its lawmakers from making the opening speech in the lower house. Other members pointed out the comparison was inaccurate.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Political Earthquake As Merkel Wins, But Anti-Immigrant Party Wins 3rd Slot With 13% Of Vote

[world politics news]

Sending a message to Chancellor Angela Merkel (who nonetheless won a fourth term in office) the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Sunday became the first openly anti-immigration party to enter parliament with so many seats since World War II, despite calls to stop the alleged "Nazi" Party. Exit polls showed the AfD with around 13% of the vote, making it the third biggest political force in Germany - a stunning result for a party that was founded just four years ago.

[FULL STORY HERE]