The Tætervolk affair
The expulsion of an MP from parliamentary activities for alleged anti-Semitic remarks has caused a furore throughout Germany, writes Rania Gaafar in Berlin
Germany's chief opposition party, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), voted on Friday by 195 to 16 abstentions to expel Martin Hohmann for making alleged anti-Semitic remarks in a public speech to his constituents. 28 members voted against.
The remarks were made on 3 October, the national holiday celebrating reunification. In an address to residents of Neuhof in the German state of Hesse, Hohmann referred to the Jews as a "Tætervolk" -- a German word which can be translated as "nation of perpetrators" -- for their part in the Bolshevik revolutions of 1917.
In the past, Hoffmann's addresses have covered topics such as asylum seekers, homosexuals and the so-called "godless" members of society. This year, he complained that Germany's educated elite were obsessed with atoning for the Holocaust, asking also whether the Jews have a "dark side" to their history. "In the light of the millions killed during the first phase of the [Russian] revolution, one can be justified in inquiring about the guilt of the Jews," he said.
His remarks provoked widespread outrage from Jewish groups as well as other parts of the political spectrum. The head of the Jewish Council in Germany, Paul Spiegel, told the German daily Die Welt that Hohmann's remarks were "the most dreadful I've heard in the past few years", and that they were "drawn from the bottom drawer of repulsive anti- Semitism". According to Die Welt, the Jewish Council is considering legal action against Hohmann for incitement. Deputy chairman of the CDU federal party, Jürgen Rüttgers, called for Hohmann to retract his comments or resign, saying that he had "corrupted historical truth in an intolerable manner".
The Hesse faction of the CDU also registered its disapproval, with Secretary- General Michael Bodenberg ordering Hohmann to refrain from making such "non-historical, incorrect and unacceptable statements". However, the CDU's deputy parliamentary leader, Wolfgang Bosbach, rejected a call for Hohmann's expulsion. "Martin Hohmann is not an anti-Semite. Hohmann's statements do, however, pander to an anti- Semitic prejudice within the general population. This has shocked me, but I have no explanation," he told Kölner Anzeiger. He said he expected Hohmann to be "given the yellow card" and for the comments to be retracted.
Mr Hohmann refused to apologise for his remarks, but in a brief statement from his home in Neuhof, said he was sorry if he had hurt anybody's feelings.
The Hohmann affair quickly degenerated after General Reinhard Günzel, head of Germany's special forces unit, wrote a letter to Hohmann congratulating him on having the courage to "speak the truth", something "rarely heard these days". Peter Struck, minister of defence of the governing Social Democratic Party, fired General Günzel, accusing him of tarnishing Germany's reputation in the international community, saying the letter "constitutes the statement of a very confused general, who identifies with the even more confused views of a CDU member of parliament".
The affair has caused a major split within the CDU. When the story initially broke, over two months ago, Merkel, head of the CDU, reprimanded Hohmann for his remarks and distanced herself from them. Nevertheless, she continued to drag her feet on expelling him from parliamentary activities. Merkel subsequently came under fire herself for weak leadership and dithering. Meanwhile, Hohmann's supporters initiated a solidarity campaign in the national Süddeutsche Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspapers, imploring Merkel to reject calls for his expulsion.
In the run up to the vote, party headquarters were inundated with e-mails expressing support for Hohmann. Many of his supporters said he had simply spoken the truth, for which he was being victimised. The fact that 28 MPs voted in favour of keeping Hohmann has also proved embarrassing for some CDU members.
Shortly before the vote last Friday, Hohmann apologised to all members of his party, saying that his words had been intentionally distorted by a local reporter. "The way I am perceived now, as someone who has hurt the feelings of Jews, and appearing to be an anti-Semite, hurts me deeply," he said.
Hohmann has not yet commented on his expulsion from the parliamentary party. Unconfirmed reports say he is planning to found his own party.
Meanwhile, the CDU has become embroiled in yet another embarrassing affair, this time as a result of a statement made by CDU member Henry Nitzsche about Muslims. He is reported to have said that, "a Muslim would rather allow his hand to rot off than vote for the CDU." He also made derisive comments about the Turkish sector of society, blasting immigration laws and saying that it was unbearable to live in a country "where any low Ali from any low mosque can find refuge". Unlike his colleague Hohmann, he will not be expelled from the CDU. In a statement to the German media, CDU head Merkel said that although his comments were rash and offensive, particularly in relation to Turkish residents in Germany, he apologised for his comments. There is nothing behind his statements, she said, but political ignorance. Turkish members of the CDU were deeply insulted by his remarks and demanded his expulsion, despite his apology.
Additional reporting by Colette Kinsella
