Thursday,
February 09, 2012
16 Shevat, 5772
News
France
UK
Germany
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
EU-Israel affairs
US 2008 ELECTION
Iran - Holocaust
Conflict in Gaza
Voices
Culture
In Depth
Mideast Crisis
World Cup
On Anglo Jewry
Week at a glance
France Election
EU and Annapolis Summit
News from outside of Europe
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Mumbai Terror
DURBAN II
WILLIAMSON
Stories from our Readers
The Calendar
Links
advertisement
advertisement
wagerworks software

Austrian MP hails 'good side' of Nazism
Updated: 10/Nov/2006 15:35
Page tools
Email to friend
Print this page
Bookmark this page
Add your view
VIENNA (AFP)--- A newly-elected right-wing member of the Austrian parliament stirred up a political storm earlier this week Wednesday after saying that Nazism had "its good side."

Calls for the resignation of Wolfgang Zanger of the Freedom Party (FPoe) and threats of legal action followed his remarks on a television programme late Tuesday.

"Of course Nazism had its good sides, only we don’t want to see them today," Zanger said, adding that Adolf Hitler had "given hope" to people in depressed Germany.

The head of the conservative OeVP party, Reinhold Lopatka, said the remarks were "scandalous", Social Democrat parliamentary speaker Barbara Prammer said they were unacceptable and the Greens called on Zanger to step down.

The head of the Young Socialists, Torsten Engelage, said legal action was being taken for alleged "minimising" of Nazism.

Zanger, 37, entered parliament following the elections of October 1 which gave the FPOe more than 11 percent of the vote and 21 seats, three more than in 2002.

His party said Wednesday he would not be resigning.

Austria, which remains ambivalent over its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, regularly sees rows over pro-Nazi statements by politicians. Last year an extreme-right senator deplored the "brutal persecution" of Austrian Nazis after World War II, and another questioned the existence of gas chambers to eliminate Jews.

Add Your View Email to friend Print this page Bookmark this page
Daily quote

Ninety-seven saint days a year wouldn’t affect the theater, but two Yom Kippurs would ruin it

Brendan Behan, Irish author, who was born on 9 February 1923 
 
Day in history
1994: Yugoslavia

Peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina announced (so called Vance-Owen peace plan)
 
Latest Articles
Lee Zeitouni’s family not allowed to attend CRIF dinner
German court caps Jewish ghetto pension claims
French government walks out of parliament after 'Nazi' taunt
EU will not recall its ambassador in Damascus, ‘important to have people to follow the situation’
EU says it will continue giving money to the Palestinian Authority despite deal with Hamas
Hungarian foreign ministry condemns Jobbik MP’s comments questioning the Holocaust and comparing Israel to a Nazi system
ADL welcomes US decision to close its embassy in Damascus