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| Europe |
| Germany: ’Anti-Semitic’ MP expelled |
| 2003-11-14 |
| Good riddance. Slightly EFL. Germany’s main opposition party has voted to expel one of its MPs from its group in parliament, after a speech widely criticised as anti-Semitic. The CDU’s Martin Hohmann said that the Jewish people were responsible for many crimes during the Russian Revolution. Despite the expulsion vote of 195 to 28, with 16 abstentions, Mr Hohmann retains his seat in parliament. A separate procedure to strip him of his party membership could take years, if he challenges it in court. The leadership originally resisted calls to expel Mr Hohmann, but his speech caused so much offence that it was forced into an embarrassing U-turn. The row has overshadowed the party’s proposals for economic and social reforms, aimed at rivalling the government’s, and came as it was enjoying being well ahead of the ruling Social Democrats in opinion polls. The decision was the first time the CDU had expelled one of its MPs and followed a show of support from some party members upset by Mr Hohmann’s treatment. Party leader Angela Merkel said it had been a hard day for the party. "The result is quite clear but it also shows that it was a very difficult decision in human terms for many colleagues," she told reporters. "I believe it is politically the right thing." The BBC’s Ray Furlong, in Berlin, says the result is actually quite embarrassing for the party. He said the CDU has always argued that Mr Hohmann was an isolated case but the vote result will strengthen critics and political rivals who allege that far-right views are more widespread in the party. A separate move to expel Mr Hohmann from the party is underway but will take much longer and be more difficult. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #3 The Germans are becoming just like us. They have the evil party, the Social Democrats, and the stupid party, the Christian Democrats. The latter have proven to be too dimwitted in not quickly and decisively getting rid of the odious Hohmann, and now are reaping the well-deserved rewards with their stupidity being confused for malevolence. |
| Posted by: Boris A.Kupershmidt 2003-11-14 11:35:46 PM |
| #2 And I was just about ready to give up on Europe. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-11-14 6:55:28 PM |
| #1 I appreciate that Germans took this seriously - though I would hope that this doesnt hurt the CDU too much, since on issues impact the life and death of Jews TODAY the CDU is better than the SDP. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-11-14 9:27:56 AM |