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By Matthieu Karnitschnig
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‘ERINNERUNGSKULTUR’
Modern Germany is known for apologizing, remorseful (fill in the adjective) for what happened to Jews across Europe between 1933 and 1945, aka the Holocaust. The Germans even invented a name for their ritual culture of remembrance: Erinnerungskulturarguably the most successful German export since the VW Bug. Without ErinnerungskulturGermany would never have been allowed to rejoin the fold of civilized nations after World War II.
It remains to paraphrase This is the conclusion of a recent joke: Germany is better able to take care of dead Jews than living Jews.
This annoying reality was on full display this week as Berlin struggled to stay on message amid the worsening situation in Israel following the rape, mutilation and massacre of around 1,400 Israelis on October 7, in what some say “attack” and others the worst pogrom against Jews since the Babi Yar massacre in 1941 in Ukraine.
The President’s German Politicians down there said all the right things. And Olaf Scholz flew to Israel, a welcome gesture. Unfortunately, the accompanying press contingent made the trip mindful of the risks they faced when, during an air raid at the airport, the kind of alarm Israelis face daily, Scholz and her entourage had to evacuate their plane.
Where is the beef? Whereas Germany has declared that the protection of Israel is the raison d’être of the German state, or Staatsräson, one can reasonably ask what Berlin has actually done to ensure Israel’s security. Where are the troops, the frigates, the arms deliveries? They don’t come. Certainly, Scholz visited Israel, but unlike US President Joe Biden, he did not pledge unconditional support for Jerusalem.
Where is the German love? After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the outpouring of support for Ukraine was palpable. Demonstrations took place in support of kyiv’s struggle and Ukrainian flags were everywhere.
In the case of Israel, not so much. It’s hard to find anyone flying the Israeli flag, for example. Instead, German media are full of reports about how the homes of more than 20 Jews in Berlin painted the Star of David – a nod to the Nazi era. Meanwhile, many Israelis in Germany are afraid to speak Hebrew in public and live in fear.
When it comes to protestsmost supported the Palestinians and sometimes Hamasnot Israel.
Don’t jump to conclusions: The usual response to this state of affairs is that it is the Arabs who have been granted asylum by Germany and who are now taking to the streets to support their Palestinian brothers. But that’s not the whole story.
Consider this video, taken this week before the German Foreign Ministry. Most of the participants, according to witnesses, are what locals call “Bio Deutsche,” ethnic Germans. And what do they sing? “Free Palestine from German guilt. »
As they say in Austria: Na servas! (holy shit!)
KURZ ON TRIAL
Speaking of the Alpine republic, I am in Vienna this week following the trial of former chancellor Sebastian Kurz, accused of making false statements during a parliamentary inquiry.
Why should anyone outside of Austria care? Because Kurz was a hugely influential figure in center-right circles in Europe, effectively rewriting the continent’s conservative party playbook at the age of 30. And if he is acquitted, there is a good chance that he will return to the forefront.
‘Not guilty:’ That was Kurz’s plea Friday as he faced questions from the judge and prosecutors. The former chancellor, now 37, offered an aggressive defense in his opening statement. He refused to answer the prosecutor’s questions (unless forced to do so by the judge), or even look in his direction.
The main accusation against himWhat he denies is that he lied to Parliament about his involvement in determining the direction of the Austrian state holding company. Kurz had campaigned on a promise to eliminate the cronyism that had characterized Austrian politics for decades, and while it appeared he was using his position to place allies in key positions, instead of the most qualified candidates, he would have been denounced as a hypocrite. prosecutors argued.
It’s the opposition’s fault: In his opening statement to the court, Kurz blamed the confrontational atmosphere at the parliamentary hearing for the inconsistencies in his testimony, but insisted he had always told the truth. “I just didn’t remember all the details,” Kurz said. “The opposition I wanted to destroy myself,” he added.
Allowed to lie? Kurz’s legal strategy relies in part on a rarely used provision that allows defendants to lie under oath in certain contexts if they fear prosecution.
The judge questioned if Kurz could claim to have told the truth during his parliamentary testimony, while taking advantage of the rule.
The trial is expected to last several more days. Here is my report on this week’s debates.
IN OTHER NEWS
KILLER OF THE AFD?
Party time: Left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht, a long-time member of the Left Party, is set to found a new political party in Germany, saying there is a political vacuum to fill: ‘I feel there are quite a few people who don’t really feel represented by any party,” she said during a book reading Thursday evening, according to media reports.
Taking AfD voters: Wagenknecht plans to launch an association called “Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht” on Monday, which would be the first step toward creating a real political party. The 54-year-old protest politician has drifted to the right on a number of issues, including immigration, and has the potential to lure many protest voters away from the far-right Alternative for Germany.
This is not an easy task : A Wagenknecht party has the potential to radically change the German political landscape. In theory, she could even win 20 percent of the national vote, according to a survey from last week.
SÖDER’S GREAT COALITION DREAM: Barely two weeks have passed since the Bavarian elections, but center-right Prime Minister Markus Söder is already getting involved in federal politics again. Today, Söder urged Scholz to counter the growing crises ravaging his government and “do what is necessary now.” For Söder, this means that Scholz and his Social Democrats (SPD) should break with the Greens and Free Democrats.
We all need a reason: Scholz, according to Söder, should instead form “a government of national reason”, that is to say a grand coalition with the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU). curator of Söder.
Guess who’s not happy: The CDU/CSU bloc! If they were to now form a coalition with the SPD, they would be the smaller partner, despite much higher poll numbers. This is why the CDU’s Carsten Linnemann has already made it clear that his party will not participate in any coalition negotiations before new elections. “If this federal government does not get its act together and falls apart, there will be no way out of new elections,” Linnemann said on Sunday.
What awaits Söder: The Bavarian politician knows very well that his proposal arouses little appetite, including from Scholz’s side. Söder’s motivation is clear: to put his name back on the national political agenda.
CRISIS DIPLOMACY
Peace Summit: Foreign Minister Annalena Baebrock today visited Israel and Lebanon for talks aimed at preventing further escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid fears the conflict could spiral out of control. Tomorrow she will be in Egypt for a peace summit hosted by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as the foreign ministers of France and the British president of EU Council Charles Michel. will be there too.
WEEK FROM:
THE FESTIVAL OF WAGENKNECHT: The left-wing politician will reveal her plans to launch her new party on Monday.
BRUSSELS CALLS: Scholz will be in the European capital on THURSDAY And Friday for the EU leaders’ summit, with tough discussions on the EU budget, aid to Ukraine and defense as key topics.
TRAVEL TO AFRICA: The Chancellor will visit Nigeria and Ghana from Sunday has Tuesdaydiscussing “regional security, economic development and cooperation on economic and global issues,” according to a spokesperson.
LO SENTIMOS! In last week’s edition we placed Valencia in the wrong Spanish region. In fact, it has its own autonomous region of the same name.
FEEDBACK LOOP: Don’t forget to send us your comments and complaints to mkarnitschni(email protected) or on X to @mkarnitschnig. Servus and Happy Weekend!
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