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German Politicians Push Back as Anti-Immigrant Rallies Swell German Leader Denounces Anti-Immigrant Surge
(about 3 hours later)
BERLIN — With visible and vocal far-right protests against foreigners swelling in Germany in recent weeks, Chancellor Angela Merkel forcefully denounced the demonstrations on Monday, affirming that the country has both a special obligation and desire to welcome anyone in need of sanctuary. BERLIN — With visible and vocal far-right protests against foreigners swelling in Germany in recent weeks, Chancellor Angela Merkel forcefully denounced the demonstrations on Monday, affirming that the country has both a special obligation and a desire to welcome anyone in need of sanctuary.
More than 150,000 people sought asylum in Germany in the first 11 months of this year, many of them refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, straining the country’s ability to house them. In addition, a looming labor shortage means Germany is increasingly attracting immigrants to work here.More than 150,000 people sought asylum in Germany in the first 11 months of this year, many of them refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, straining the country’s ability to house them. In addition, a looming labor shortage means Germany is increasingly attracting immigrants to work here.
“There is freedom of assembly in Germany but there is no place here for incitement and lies about people who come to us from other countries,” Ms. Merkel told reporters on Monday, hours before a group opposing alleged “Islamization” held its ninth weekly protest in Dresden, where attendance has swelled from a few hundred to 15,000 this week.“There is freedom of assembly in Germany but there is no place here for incitement and lies about people who come to us from other countries,” Ms. Merkel told reporters on Monday, hours before a group opposing alleged “Islamization” held its ninth weekly protest in Dresden, where attendance has swelled from a few hundred to 15,000 this week.
“Everyone needs to be careful that they are not taken advantage of by the people who organize such events,” Ms. Merkel said. But her warning did not seem to deter the marchers. From 10,000 last week, they again forcefully strengthened their presence, despite a week of mounting establishment concern about right-wing opposition to Germany’s open door for immigrants. “Everyone needs to be careful that they are not taken advantage of by the people who organize such events,” Ms. Merkel said. But her warning did not seem to deter the marchers. From 10,000 last week, they again strengthened their presence, despite a week of mounting establishment concern about right-wing opposition to Germany’s open door for immigrants.
A counter-demonstration by groups welcoming immigrants and proclaiming “Dresden without Nazis"drew about 5,000 people said Lutz Milker, the police commissioner. He said about 1,350 police were deployed and the marches ended peacefully. A counter-demonstration by groups welcoming immigrants and proclaiming “Dresden without Nazis” drew about 5,000 people, said Lutz Milker, the police commissioner. He said about 1,350 police officers were deployed and the marches ended peacefully.
The protesters in Dresden, a mix of young men, local neo-Nazis and ordinary citizens who have appropriated the rallying cry of anti-Communist demonstrators in East Germany in 1989, have made clear that not everyone agrees with this policy. Their chants of “Wir Sind das Volk,” or “We Are the People,” have both struck a chord and sent a shudder throughout Germany. The protesters in Dresden, a mix of young men, local neo-Nazis and ordinary citizens who have appropriated the rallying cry of anti-Communist demonstrators in East Germany in 1989, have made clear that not everyone agrees with immigration and refugee policy. Their chants of “Wir Sind das Volk,” or “We are the people,” have both struck a chord and sent a shudder throughout Germany.
Nerves were rattled last Friday, when three buildings newly renovated for a few dozen refugees in Vorra, a village of 1,000 near Nuremberg, were burned in what appeared to be arson attacks. A swastika and an anti-refugee slogan were daubed on one of the torched structures. Nerves were rattled last Friday, when three buildings newly renovated for a few dozen refugees in Vorra, a village of 1,000 near Nuremberg, were burned in what appeared to be arson attacks. A swastika and an anti-refugee slogan were daubed on one of the burned structures.
The hand-wringing over anti-foreigner and right-wing sentiment crested in the last week. The three most prominent television hosts each devoted a whole show to the protests in Dresden, which are led by a group known as Pegida, a German acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the West.The hand-wringing over anti-foreigner and right-wing sentiment crested in the last week. The three most prominent television hosts each devoted a whole show to the protests in Dresden, which are led by a group known as Pegida, a German acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the West.
Opposition parties — the Greens and the Left Party — have accused Ms. Merkel’s conservative bloc of Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, of being too tentative in criticism of the protests because they fear losing votes on the right.Opposition parties — the Greens and the Left Party — have accused Ms. Merkel’s conservative bloc of Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, of being too tentative in criticism of the protests because they fear losing votes on the right.
The German justice minister, Heiko Maas, a Social Democrat in Ms. Merkel’s coalition government of center-left and center-right parties, called Dresden demonstrators “a shame for Germany.” The majority of Germans, Mr. Maas, said Monday, want to welcome refugees “who have just lost everything.”The German justice minister, Heiko Maas, a Social Democrat in Ms. Merkel’s coalition government of center-left and center-right parties, called Dresden demonstrators “a shame for Germany.” The majority of Germans, Mr. Maas, said Monday, want to welcome refugees “who have just lost everything.”
Mr. Maas cited the example of a pro-foreigner rally attended by 15,000 people in Cologne over the weekend, and counter-demonstrations in Dresden — attended by 9,000 people last week — welcoming refugees. Mr. Maas cited the example of a pro-foreigner rally attended by 15,000 people in Cologne over the weekend, and counterdemonstrations in Dresden — attended by 9,000 people last week — welcoming refugees.
The protests have raised the question of whether Germany, despite relative prosperity and low unemployment, is vulnerable to the kind of populism on much stronger display in neighboring France, where polls show Marine Le Pen and her Front National party are favored by 25 to 30 percent of voters, or in Britain, where the anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party has rattled the governing Conservative Party. The protests have raised the question of whether Germany, despite relative prosperity and low unemployment, is vulnerable to the kind of populism on much stronger display in neighboring France, where polls show Marine Le Pen and her Front National party are favored by 25 percent to 30 percent of voters, or in Britain, where the anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party has rattled the governing Conservative Party.
A new party, Alternative for Germany, struck a populist tone and won local legislative seats this fall in three eastern German states, including Saxony, which in the past had elected neo-Nazis in the National Democratic Party to its state legislature. Every February, on the anniversary of the Allied bombing of 1945, Dresden is the venue for Germany’s biggest annual far-right protest.A new party, Alternative for Germany, struck a populist tone and won local legislative seats this fall in three eastern German states, including Saxony, which in the past had elected neo-Nazis in the National Democratic Party to its state legislature. Every February, on the anniversary of the Allied bombing of 1945, Dresden is the venue for Germany’s biggest annual far-right protest.
Politics in eastern Germany, where memories of Communist rule are still strong a quarter-century after reunification, are notoriously febrile, and it is unclear whether Alternative for Germany can reach the 5 percent threshold needed for any legislative representation in Berlin, either in coming western German state elections, or in national elections to be held in 2017.Politics in eastern Germany, where memories of Communist rule are still strong a quarter-century after reunification, are notoriously febrile, and it is unclear whether Alternative for Germany can reach the 5 percent threshold needed for any legislative representation in Berlin, either in coming western German state elections, or in national elections to be held in 2017.
Over the weekend, Alternative party leaders clashed over whether to heed the Dresden demonstrators. One leader, Alexander Gauland, said in a telephone interview that he would go Monday and talk with Pegida marchers. “I would like to know who they are,” he said, condemning other politicians for dismissing the Dresden crowd as out of hand.Over the weekend, Alternative party leaders clashed over whether to heed the Dresden demonstrators. One leader, Alexander Gauland, said in a telephone interview that he would go Monday and talk with Pegida marchers. “I would like to know who they are,” he said, condemning other politicians for dismissing the Dresden crowd as out of hand.
“Obviously, for the most part, these are normal people from right in the middle of society,” Mr. Gauland said.“Obviously, for the most part, these are normal people from right in the middle of society,” Mr. Gauland said.
It is unclear who exactly is behind the movement. Lutz Bachmann, the 41-year-old advertiser who addresses the weekly rallies, has admitted to a criminal record that clashes somewhat with his followers’ assertions that foreigners often bring unwanted crime.