- BERLIN (AP) -- Germany's
main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union, has decided to oust
an MP at the centre of an anti-semitism scandal.
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- Roland Koch, the governor of Hesse, said that he would
propose the expulsion of Martin Hohmann from the party. Mr Hohmann has
been widely criticised for a remark he made comparing the Jews to the Nazis
during a speech to mark German Unity Day last month.
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- Mr Koch added that the party chairwoman, Angela Merkel,
had decided to try to expel Mr Hohmann from the party's group in the federal
parliament.
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- "If Mr Hohmann is excluded from the parliamentary
group, he can also not be a member of the party any longer," said
Mr Koch. "The one depends on the other. I and Angela Merkel agree."
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- The announcement by Mr Koch appeared to signal a reversal
by the Christian Democrats, who even yesterday morning had said that they
would not move against Mr Hohmann and defended his right to speak out.
Mr Hohmann has already apologised under duress from his party.
-
- Expelling him from the conservative parliamentary group
requires a two-thirds majority among members of parliament, and Mr Hohmann
could appeal against an attempt to kick him out of the party.
-
- Many in the Christian Democrat Union fear that he could
speak more freely if he no longer faces the constraint of party discipline.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1082309,00.html
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