Trump Effect In Germany
 

"BERLIN — The unconventional administration of President Trump may be causing consternation among American liberals. But here in Germany, the anchor of the European Union, Trump’s rise is helping fuel an unexpected surge of the left.
What is happening in Germany is the kind of Trump bump perhaps never foreseen by his supporters — a boost not for the German nationalists viewed as Trump’s natural allies but for his fiercest critics in the center left. The Social Democrats (SPD) have bounced back under the charismatic Martin Schulz, the former head of the European Parliament who took over as party chairman last month and is now staging a surprisingly strong bid to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In a country that stands as a painful example of the disastrous effects of radical nationalism, Schulz is building a campaign in part around bold attacks on Trump. He has stopped well short of direct comparisons to Adolf Hitler, but Schulz recently mentioned Trump in the same speech in which he heralded his party’s resistance to the Nazis in the lead-up to World War II.
“We will never give up our values, our freedom and democracy, no matter what challenges we are facing,” Schulz said in a recent speech. He added, “That a U.S. president wants to put up walls, is thinking aloud about torture and attacks women, religious communities, minorities, people with handicaps, artists and intellectuals with brazen and dangerous comments is a breach of taboo that’s unbearable.”

His anti-Trump platform comes as Germans are questioning American power more than at any point since the end of the Cold War, illustrating an erosion of allied faith in the new era of “America first.” A recent poll found that only 22 percent of Germans see the United States led by Trump as a “reliable partner” — putting it only one percentage point above Russia." WP

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.f8eda3596e93

Thanks Trump. At least you're good for something.

Germany has devolved into a society where free speech is imperiled, where there is excessive attempt to suppress the idea of national rights.

Overwhelmed with guilt she has destabilized herself. Trump has allowed many, many Germans to now question the folly of its leaders.

Another person which helped saved Germany from itself, is the much attacked and maligned Victor Orban. And he did not charge Germany a Euro--a great contrast to Erdogan. :D

Take note that Frau Merkel is down not that Schulz is up.

Bullshit. I lived there for 11 years, speak fluent German, still read German papers, and talk to my German friends on Skype frequently. Like other European countries, their laws about free speech are different than ours, but free speech is far from imperiled.

Three years for revisionist thought--such a denial of the holocaust.

Allowing/promoting Holocaust denial is essential to democracy? Who knew?

Oh Gawd here we go again. :rolleyes:

When it comes to self promotion you make Trump look like an amateur.

I just happen to know Germany far better than you know Mobile, AL, snowflake.

That is an extra reason the British is leaving the EU.

Wha? They chafe under holocaust denial denial in Britain?

Do you see the holocaust as questionable?

It is not an offence in Britain despite the push from the German dominated EU.

My point: If you are in defense of free speech then you should be able to say "I do not believe the holocaust occurred" without being subjected to imprisonment.

Thought policing whether by the Iranian mullahs or the German parliament is utterly objectionable.