During the pandemic, our leaders claimed to act on behalf of the health concerns of the oldest and the sickest, effectively reducing all of Germany to a farcical authoritarian care home for the immuno-compromised. While the worst abuses of that era have passed, the lunacy and hysteria have persisted, assuming ever new forms. We have left the era of care-home politics, and entered a brave new world of Germany-as-lunatic-asylum. Every day it gets crazier.
It will come as no surprise to my readers to hear that all is not well in the Federal Republic. We have entered a prolonged economic recession, and our future prospects are very dim. Inflation, de-industrialisation, labour shortages and increasingly dysfunctional public services have all become uncomfortable features of everyday life. Our most immediate problems are all self-inflicted. The Government that came to power in 2021, via the votes of a complacent and politically ignorant electorate, has ruled as badly as expected. They eagerly supported the catastrophic European Union sanctions against Russia, they presided in awkward silence over the unprecedented Nord Stream attacks, and they’ve made up the energy shortfall by burning more coal and importing liquid natural gas from the United States. As a result, Germany has one of the highest-emitting power grids in Europe, but in other areas our leaders have chosen to exacerbate the economic damage by pressing forward with nuclear phase-out and the energy transition, driving energy prices even higher. They’ve increased social entitlements, reducing incentives to work precisely as the baby boomers retire. They’ve harassed their own people with enormously expensive laws like the building energy ordinances, which have no prospect of doing anything to save the climate, but will cost individual Germans and the Federal Government alike billions of euros. Then, to make it all worse, the doubtful budgetary tricks they employed to pay for all of this were declared unconstitutional, and so they have gone back on prior promises and sought to raise taxes in oblique ways, whether with the CO2 toll or the cancellation of tax rebates on agricultural diesel. And this in a country that already has one of the highest tax burdens in all of Europe.
In response to this sad history of misrule and failure, approval ratings for the Government have fallen to all-time lows. Only 20% of Germans still support Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and 82% say that they are dissatisfied with the Government in general. Anti-government protests erupted across the country in January, led by farmers, truckers and tradesmen who have had enough of traffic light lunacy. The only true German opposition party, Alternative für Deutschland, are polling at or above 22%. They are the second strongest party in all of Germany, and far and away the strongest in the five East German states.
The Scholz clown car, however, tell a much different story about what has gone wrong. They declare themselves to be the very embodiment of liberal democracy and all that is right and good in the world. To the extent that bad things have happened, it is the fault of anti-democratic forces, foreign and domestic. They lay blame for the energy crisis and the ensuing economic disaster at the feet of the profoundly anti-democratic Vladimir Putin and his anti-democratic war of aggression against that beacon of democracy known as Ukraine. Their domestic problems they ascribe to the nebulous, self-directing “hate” of the Germans and the allegedly anti-democratic Alternative für Deutschland, who have inflamed the anti-democratic tendencies of the German people. Failure to support ruinous government policies is thus by definition contrary to democracy and ought to be illegal. Many leading heads are hard at work spinning arguments about how we need to ban the opposition and limit the political expression of opposition leaders. In short, we must abolish democracy if we are to have any hope of saving it.
To reinforce this narrative, and precisely as the farmers’ protest began to draw attention, taxpayer- and NGO-funded journalists published a long story about an alleged “secret meeting” in Potsdam, where (they said) opposition politicians plotted the unconstitutional mass deportation of migrants. Almost everything about the story was inaccurate or exaggerated. It was a private meeting, not an AfD event; nothing anybody said there was secret; and in many points their discussion hardly differed from demands made by Chancellor Scholz himself. Nevertheless, the establishment press turned gratefully to this new story as an excuse to stop talking about the farmers. Regime-adjacent parties, especially the Greens who control extensive activist networks, began organising protests against “the Right” – that is to say, against the AfD, the party whose very popularity is a direct consequence of their own policies.
On Friday, at least 50,000 people took to the streets of Hamburg to express their resolve “against Right-wing extremism and Neo-Nazi organisations”. The event was co-organised by SPD politician Kazim Abaci and his pro-migrant organisation ‘Entrepreneurs without Borders’. Thereafter, Chancellor Scholz posted a speech calling for more protests across Germany, as if he were an opposition politician and the AfD were running the government:
From Cologne to Dresden, from Tübingen to Kiel, hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets in Germany these days to show their support for our democracy and against Right-wing extremism. I was there too – at a large rally at my home in Potsdam. Because what we are now experiencing here in our country really concerns us all. Each and every one of us. I’ll say it clearly and bluntly: Right-wing extremists are attacking our democracy. They want to destroy our cohesion. At a secret conference, these extremists discussed how they could drive millions of people out of our country. Families who have lived here for many years and decades. Our neighbours, work colleagues and school friends, men and women who work in our hospitals and nursing homes, who own the restaurant or bakery on the corner, who teach in our schools or do research at our universities. This thought sends shivers down your spine. You can only imagine how the more than 20 million citizens with migrant background feel. They know that these Right-wing extremists are talking about them. They would be directly affected by this diabolical plan …
This weekend, too, many rallies are planned against the Right-wing extremist enemies of our democracy. I think that’s right and good. If there is one thing that must never again have a place in Germany, it is the racial ideology of the National Socialists. The extremists’ repulsive resettlement plans express nothing else. They are an attack on our democracy, and therefore on us all. That is why I now call on everyone to take a clear and unequivocal stand. For cohesion, for tolerance and for our democratic Germany.
And take a stand they have: “Tens of thousands demonstrate in Cologne and Bremen against the Right – on Saturday there were 300,000 people on the streets,” says state media RND. “Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has praised the nationwide demonstrations against Right-wing extremism and described them as an encouraging sign for democracy,” says Tagesschau, who for some reason think it newsworthy that this leading Green politician should support the very protests his party has helped organise. A sub-genre of these stories are very eager to tell you where the protests are happening so you can join in. “Where they’re demonstrating against the Right this weekend”, wrote Der Spiegel on Friday; “‘Defend democracy’: Alliance calls for anti-AfD demonstration in Berlin on Sunday – this is the route,” said Tagesspiegel on Thursday. This is press activism at its finest.
As promised, the farmers have not left the Street of 17 June in Berlin; they and the truckers and tradesmen continue their action, but the press will only report on the anti-Right demonstrations and so it is as if they don’t exist. The Greens are pushing hard to make the protests the central theme of state media reporting, and public media outlets have been caught numerous times interviewing supposedly random demonstrators who turn out actually to be Green politicians – a tiresome tactic for which they’re notorious. Nor are the anti-Right protests univocally “democratic” except in the fantasies of journalists; Antifa, the communists of Rote Hilfe and various pro-Palestinian activists have such a prominent presence at many of these events that their flags can’t be excluded from public photos.
This flag from Friday’s Hamburg demonstration declares that “Zionism is Right-wing” – hardly a message that the Scholz Government would be all that comfortable with
We have before us a bizarre politics unfolding entirely within the parallel reality created by the Government parties and the media, in response to a story about an insignificant meeting and the non-existent threat of a largely imaginary Right-wing. Germany has a long of list of problems, but AfD are not in government and bear no responsibility for any of them. As for our sacred constitution, the only people who stand clearly guilty of offences against it are the coalition parties who schemed to reappropriate emergency funds contrary to our constitutionally established debt ceiling. The protesters on the streets today demonstrate on behalf of parties that are already in power; there is nothing for their sound and fury to achieve beyond the political simulacrum in which it is unfolding.
This article originally appeared on Eugyppius’s Substack newsletter. You can subscribe here.
Stop Press: The extraordinarily prolific Eugyppius has written a follow-up post to this one already. Click here to read it.
Stop Press 2: Watch the video Tom Slater has made for Spiked about the German farmers’ protest.
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I’m literally hard-pushed to find a single good news story from Germany, therefore I will continue on my Germany-bashing theme from yesterday with more on this Habeck character here. And if this isn’t an example of projection I don’t know what is;
”German Economics Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) has called for tough action by the security authorities against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with Habeck claiming the party wants to “destroy democracy” and “turn Germany into a state like Russia.”
The minister outlined to Stern magazine a detailed picture of what the intelligence services, police and public prosecutors now have to do against the AfD.
“So the security authorities must also take systematic action, collect evidence, keep a close eye on sub-groups, individuals, events and statements,” said Habeck.
Habeck says that he will not rule out an AfD ban, but was concerned that such an application could fail before the Federal Constitutional Court. Such an outcome would benefit the AfD.
“The right-wing autocrats want to attack the essence of the republic,” Habeck continued. “They want to turn Germany into a state like Russia. They are systematically preparing for this.”
Habeck did not give any examples to support his claims; however, the AfD has never called for ending the democratic process or installing a dictator. In fact, the party has actually called for Swiss-style nationwide referendums to be made available to the German public to increase democracy in the country.
It is the Greens, the Left party, and the SPD who are currently calling for a ban on an opposition party, a move typically seen in countries like Russia or Ukraine.”
https://rmx.news/germany/afd-wants-to-turn-germany-into-a-fascist-state-claims-green-party-minister-robert-habeck-says-he-will-not-rule-out-a-ban/
Historically, the AfD is mainly an east German party (more properly referred to as Mitteldeutschland, central Germany, but there, we’re already teetering on the brink of officially designated Nazism) and because of this, they’re very much pro-Putin. That’s the background for Habeck’s baseless claims. Or not so baseless claims. The AfD is probably opposed to creating underage masturbation rooms in daycare centers, doesn’t like drag something story time very much, believes that men and women have a physical existence instead of being merely somewhat outmoded social constructs and might even desire to turn the German national football team — nowaday just called The Team because German and national is absolutely not comme if fault — back into a football team instead of a bunch of international LGXYZ ‘ambassdors’ — all pretty awful stuff and probably just what makes Habeck secretly shudder when “Russia” is being mentioned. To him, this must feel like being dragged, kicking and screaming, back into absolutely medieval dark ages.
This is blatant projection as you said. It is happening all over the world in lock step. Democracy is under threat, but it is from extreme left globalists who project their malfeasance on to anyone who disagrees with them, and immediately label them extreme right wing.
If wars are about self determination, then we are in the middle of a world war right now. Globalists are making their moves. In the US the left trying to take Trump off the ballot, in Germany it’s the AfD. Government/globalist propaganda is everywhere. We have frightening levels of censorship and surveillance, and much more to come. However all this propaganda is beginning to backfire. The public are seeing through the WEF nonsense, and it is by no means certain that the left will win. The more they attack Trump, the more popular he is, same with the AfD in Germany, and the farmers in the Netherlands. In Argentina Milie is a breath of fresh air.
They are in for real trouble if they try to disenfranchise large swathes of the population. Interesting times ahead.
There are increasing numbers of cleverly doctored video clips on the internet but regarding your viewpoint, of which I fully agree, I sincerely hope the forthright scolding of Klaus Schwab and his gang of psychopaths at the WEF is genuine. Even if it isn’t the gentleman is bang on the money.
https://youtu.be/beG-IpZk4DA?si=iPbMwIE6hdrLVaEf
Eugyppius – from whose Substack this is taken, is well worth subscribing to. Acute, funny, and writes better English than most of us do!
The Liberal Progressive Virus is actually way worse than any real virus. It is even more contagious as well and is spreading all over the Western World faster than a speeding bullet. You know you are in trouble when even the oh so pragmatic Germans are running around with pretend to save the planet social justice masks on. The symptoms include covering a once beautiful country in turbines and bringing in millions of immigrants. Right of centre politicians have been unable to develop a vaccine so far. There are however hopes that the populist vaccine that has been successful in trials may yet wipe out this 21st century malady.
Many of these ‘pragmatic Germans’ are barely capable of speaking German without constantly using English words and badly translated English phrases. At least some of them would also love to make English the official language of the German civil service to avoid unfairly disadvantaging prospective immigrants (FDP MPs keep bringing this up every once in a while).
“Defend democracy” = “Try to prevent our political opponents from winning an election”
In related news Herr Hitler said his brown shirts, gestapo and camps were necessary to ‘save democracy’ from radical far left fascists who rejected the democratic mandate given to the centrist Nazi party.
If you read the manifesto of the NSDAP
https://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/nazi-party-25-points-1920/
you will see they were left wing. Huge welfare state, and state control of corporations.
Anything BUT right wing.
That’s a piss-poor translation. But neither a huge welfare state nor state control of corporations is in there. Economical points are:
13) We demand that all publically traded companies are nationalised.
14) We demand that workers employed by large companies get a share of the profits.
and the only one somewhat related to a welfare state is
15) We demand a more universal and much more generous pension system.
This refers to the pension system introduced by the known hardcore communist Otto v. Bismarck¹ which was essentially a system of poor relief for people too old to work.
¹ Note to J. Random Ignoramus: He wasn’t really a communist but the Prussian chancellor who architected creation of the German Empire in 1871.
One of my pet theories is that there are probably people who believe the USA is only a democracy while the Democrats rule because otherwise, it’s obviously merely a republic.
Indeed, and plenty of people who don’t understand the difference between a democracy and a republic. I’m not sure many countries qualify for either description these days.
As far as I know, the standard definition of republic is not a monarchy, ie, anything were neither head of government nor head of state are formally hereditary offices.
From what I understand the distinction is that in a republic, the power of the legislature and the executive is limited by a constitution, by the rule of law e.g. the USA, whereas e.g. in the UK the government can do whatever it wants by simple majority.
The UK is a monarchy. Hence, it’s not a republic. The word comes from the Latin res publica (“affairs of the people”), the term used to refer to the Roman state after monarchy was abolished.
The ills assailing Germany appear little different to those assailing the UK and other western democracies. How strange.
Are you inferring that the ills assailing Western “democracies” are in some way being co-ordinated Glyn?
That would appear to be verging on dangerous conspiracy theory.
Wait a minute. Scholz isn’t wearing a smart black uniform with matching cap. Nor is he shouting a lot, nor is he doing any fancy hand gestures.
Nice Mr Scholz therefore cannot possibly be a bad guy. He must therefore be a good guy.
Olaf. Oh-laff. Such a nice name! And a lovely smile.
Next they will be calling those who vote for the AfD fruitcakes and loonies. After that there will be a campaign to seperate the old East states from the West with a big border (possibly a Wall) to keep out the migrants.
Next they will be calling those who vote for the AfD fruitcakes and loonies.
They’re preferring terms like subhuman scum.
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/why-i-believe-theres-no-place-in-britain-for-fundamentalist-islamism/
Laurence Fox at TCW with an absolutely no holds barred denunciation of the adherents to the religion of peace. He’s bang on. Islam needs to be cleared from western nations.
Grim reading.
The writer seeks to suggest Putin is not anti-democratic and through sarcasm that Ukraine has no merits and does not deserve to be saved from external aggression. I do not agree with him on these points.
I think you’re misinterpreting this. What he probably meant to say is that the energy and associated economic crisis whas not been caused by anti-democratic Putin acting anti-democratically (he’s obviously parodying the political establishment here) but by the Western sanctions against Putin and he’s also alluding to that fact that it’s widely known that the Ukrainian political establishment is beset with corruption. In total, this means the black-and-white picture the political establishment likes to present on this isn’t really black-and-white.
Germany is being de-industrialised and flooded with poor, troublesome immigrants, just like the UK and for the same reasons.
The difference is that, the UK was largely de-industrialised in the 70’s and ’80s so the destruction of our remaining industry will be very painful for some towns (ie Port Talbot) but most of the country won’t be directly affected.
German manufacturing has been pre-eminent in Europe for decades so the process of deliberate destruction will be far quicker; extremely painful; will impact everywhere and will profoundly damage the German psyche.
I can’t help thinking that the WEF/Globalists are deliberately “winding up” the German people because they know that the political reaction will be very different to the reaction they get in the UK. And, exploiting the country’s 20th century history, that will give them the justification they need to impose anti-democratic control and surveillance.