Forget about Greeks protesting because ... sob ... held up banners with two key demands: "Raus aus dem Euro" (Out of the Euro) and "Stoppt die Schuldenunion" (Stop the debt union), according to a report by German daily FAZ.is, I suspect, the beginning of a trend in Germany where the eurozone is clearly becoming ever less popular. It is good to see those signs outside the ECB though one cannot help thinking that if only they had listened to us ten or fifteen years ago, instead of pouring scorn on our warnings, the oncoming mess might have been avoided.
I asked Google to translate the party's programme into English and, for once, it is quite comprehensible. One cannot but support these people though, as they believe in freedom, low taxation and a small state, they will undoubtedly be called "fascist" by people who know absolutely nothing about fascism.
There is another political party, called simply "Die Partei" which was set up by the editor of a satirical magazine called "Titanic" - rather as if Private Eye had sponsored it. Amongst its aims is the rebuilding of the Berlin Wall and greater protection for animals. One of the top officials is called Hintner, so they have started the Hintner Youth (Greeting "Hi Hintner!") which recently "invaded" Liechtenstein to bring it the benefits of democracy. They seem to have some jolly get togethers and have borrowed an old East German communist song "Die Partei hat immer recht" (the party is always right) as their theme tune.
ReplyDeleteI just mention it in case you should hit on one of their blogs and wonder what had happened to "Die Partei der Vernunft". I wonder whether their slogan is "Tomorrow belongs to us"? It would seem appropriate.
Rather an interesting collection of songs and slogans there. Thanks for pointing it out, Edward.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and reply. The Germans also have the hopelessly muddled Die Linke party (anti-Lisbon, pro-integration).
ReplyDeleteHaving always though that it was trad, I was surprised to learn the other day that "Tomorrow belongs to me" is by Kander/Ebb. Helen, being up on musicals and history, was probably never taken in.