Is there a Nazi revival in Germany? That was the question people were agonising over after the country's far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), won elections for the first time recently.
Late last month, the AfD won the post of district administrator in Sonneberg, population about 22,000 and, until now, best known as the home of the German Toy Museum. The second AfD victory in early July had the party installing a new mayor in the even smaller town of Raguhn-Jessnitz, population about 8000.
It's not just the fact that the new Sonneberg district administrator now answers to the AfD's Björn Höcke that perturbs Germans. Höcke is so close to being an actual Nazi that a local reporter once asked whether he'd come up with certain statements in his book himself or whether he was quoting Adolf Hitler.
Denne historien er fra July 15 - 21 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra July 15 - 21 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
