To Ban or Not to Ban
The following comments reflect the views of our readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.
Sixty years may have passed, but it's still too soon for Germany to the allow right wing extremists to have a hand in governing. -- Dave Wells, US
When the mainstream parties do not represent an area properly, the people look elsewhere. -- Alfred Marin, Canada
It appears that the lessons of the past might be forgotten by some, but not the far-right NPD leadership, who are feeding on the feelings of the "angry young German in the streets." The alarming and cancerous high rate of unemployment in the new federal states is feeding a hungry and rapid growing movement among young people throughout Germany toward the rebirth of 21st century Nazism. A "public uprising" among the public and media is fully justified now to thwart further growth least we suffer the lessons of the past. The German press and responsible German voters must take action now to force an initiative to achieve a constitutional amendment -- one which outlaws radical parties from gaining parliamentary recognition in the German government. The entire world is watching to see what the next move is. I would say shame, shame if the German people fail to take this matter serious and do something about it before it's too late. -- John Allred
I believe that when a democratic process selects a certain party over another, it should not be criticized. To outlaw a party because we feel that some of their beliefs are not mainstream enough is to outlaw people's freedom of choice for voting for that party. Every nation has its right wing, including famous democracies, including famous democracies like the US, and they also have neo-Nazis who run for office.The population should have the freedom to elect whom it wants. -- Derrick Stearns
Should the NPD be banned from German politics? In my opinion, no. If the NPD gains the ascendancy in German elections it will be because of the will of the people as indicated by their votes and not otherwise. Also, if a society is truly to be democratic in practice and not in name only then there should be no attempts by the mainstream political parties and the media to obstruct a rival party from campaigning and participating in free elections. The strength of a free democratic society rests in the voting populace being well informed on current issues and party platforms. Each party should be given equal access to the public in order to express its own views, and in the end it's the people themselves who will decide by their votes what political party best represents their views and what is best for the future of Germany. -- Mitchell Kelly
