Germany's Record Unemployment and Ultra-right Politics
A commentary by Paul Kieffer
Pastor of United Church of God congregations in Germany
Throughout much of Europe unemployment is a nettlesome
problem. Germany is one of at least four countries in which employment
has exceeded the 10% rate.
According to February's unemployment statistics, for the first
time since World War II more than 5 million Germans are without a job.
They and many other Germans are worried.
Reaching the 5 million mark had an immediate impact on Germany's
national confidence. In a poll taken a couple of days after the unemployment
figures were released, 85% of the Germans surveyed expressed concern
for their personal future. Every third German who still has a job is
apprehensive that he will lose it.
In the eastern part of the country—formerly the nation of East
Germany—50% of jobholders fear they will be laid off. Two out of
three believe that the nation's unemployment rate will continue
to rise.
Increasingly, there is a lack of confidence among the German people
that their government will be able to turn the tide on unemployment.
They are fearful over Germany's prolonged economic slump.
As a result, considerable pressure is on Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's
government. Part of it stems from the recent success of Germany's ultra-right NPD
party (the Democratic National Party). The NPD has been around a long
time. It made headlines as early as 1968 when it won and held seats in
a German state legislature for one term.
Now, 36 years later, its former success has been repeated. The NPD
won 12 seats in last fall's elections for the state legislature
in the new state of Saxony (Sachsen) within what was formerly East Germany.
The NPD garnered 9.2% of the votes cast, an increase of 7.8% in the 5
years since the last election.
With unemployment rates twice as a high as in its western states, Germany's
newer states in the eastern part of the country have become fertile ground
for ultra-right political activity.
The NPD has a radical "Germans first" platform. It demands
that immigration to Germany must be highly restricted and that foreign
guest workers must be sent home so Germans can take their jobs.
Several state elections will be held this year. And if the German economy
doesn't show significant improvement soon, the NPD is poised to
attract—especially among the young—even more voters who are
disillusioned with the traditional parties' efforts to solve the
nation's economic problems. This is a grave danger in the heart
of Europe—especially since Austria also has a similar ultra-right
political party.
The recent unemployment figures prompted Bavarian governor Edmund Stoiber—who
opposed Chancellor Schröder in the 2002 election—to accuse
Schröder of promoting indirectly the far right NPD through his failing
economic policies. Stoiber fears that "... the economic failure
of the Schröder government is creating a breeding ground for extremists
who exploit the hopelessness of people and thereby endanger our democracy" (Welt
am Sonntag, February 6, 2005).
He thinks that Germany could be approaching a crisis very similar to
the one it faced in 1932 that opened the door for Adolph Hitler to seize
power. It was in that election that millions of disenchanted voters propelled
the Nazi Party to a prominent position of influence in the German Reichstag.
Chancellor Schröder, of course, is convinced that he is not underestimating
the potential danger of the NPD's gains. His response to the NPD
plan to conduct a protest rally in Berlin at the Brandenburg gate on
the 60 th anniversary of the end of World War II (May 8 th), has been
to ask "decent democrats" to stage a counter rally.
But mere demonstrations will not be enough to bring the current tensions
to an end. Germany must quickly begin solving its unemployment problem
if it is to counteract the growing sense of frustration and hopelessness
within the country, especially in its eastern states.
There are some hopeful indications that the government will act in
time. But if it doesn't, a real tragedy could be in the making.
Germany' economy is the largest in Europe. Therefore, it is essential
that its government remain stable because of its impact on the economy—and
the political stability—of all of Europe. History has made it very
clear that a fanatical right-wing government can disrupt the political
scene of the entire European continent.
All present European governments seem determined to prevent such crisis
from happening again. However, biblical prophecy indicates that at least
a few European governments will once again come under the control of
leaders with an ultra-right agenda. Therefore, it is important to be
aware of the warnings that the Bible gives us concerning the future of
that portion of the world that once hosted the Roman Empire.
 Those warnings are presented in considerable detail in the last book
of the Bible, the book of Revelation. To learn the significance of those
warnings and understand why certain current trends in Europe today could
be early precursors of their fulfillment, be sure to request or download
your free copy of our booklet: The
Book of Revelation Unveiled.
|
