Published: January 26th, 2017

Germany came under strong external and internal pressure from several sides. German intelligence did not cease to warn about the threat of "Russian hackers" who are trying to "undermine" the country and the power of Chancellor Angela Merkel's political system. The ruling elite of the country still remains perplexed by Donald Trumps coming to power in the United States. Chancellor, members of its government and the German media do not cease to call themselves, society and other EU countries to defend against the new threats, to save the liberal system of the West.

Quite inappropriately occurred "internal explosions" that rocked Germany. The country almost came to herself after the terrible terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. The authorities reassured the population, have taken strict measures to fight Islamism, and - hurray! - The rating of the ruling party Merkel once again increased, and electoral support of right-wing parties has decreased significantly.

Some right-wing politicians did not like it, and they began to rock the boat. One of the leaders of the party "Alternative for Germany" Bjorn Hёke provoked an unprecedented scandal. Speaking at a party event in Dresden, he called on Germans under thunderous applause to stop experiencing the historical guilt of the Nazi past.

For Germany, such words are blasphemous . Postwar German identity just is based on total rejection of misanthropic policy and ideology of the Third Reich. From Hёke turn away all but the party "Alternative for Germany" it is not excluded. He found influential patrons. Many saw the incident with Hёke as an another defeat of the German authorities, which a few days before was not possible through the Constitutional Court of the country to ban the ultra-right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD).

The manifestations of Nazism in Germany complicate the task of national authorities to assume the moral leadership of the European Union for the protection of the western system of liberal values. Simply put, Hёkes sins now be attributed to the whole party "Alternative for Germany". But here we must be careful. For administrative pressure on the right opposition can contribute to a boomerang effect. Part of the society that is radically opposed to the current authorities can replenish their ranks with a new army of unhappy. Based on these considerations the Supreme Court of Germany did not ban the NAP.

Germany cherishes its image in the world, so the resist to Hёkes statements will be given. But abroad, especially in countries that were most affected by the Nazi atrocities will closely look closely to the internal situation in Germany.

Many fear that Hёkes speech in Dresden coincided with the Congress of the right European parties in Koblenz. Right populists, as they are called in the West, met in this historic location on the Rhine, to think about the overall strategy and mutual support in the upcoming election campaigns in several European countries. The right feel that their chances to really grow. If the party "Alternative for Germany" wants to continue to play a leading role in a new "right Internazionale", it should immediately disassociate themselves from the Hёkes rhetoric.

Discussed problems are serious. No one can deny that the national outlook in all Western countries are growing. Someone are very afraid that nationalism could shake or even change the liberal system, which West so successfully was based on. But the liberal era ends under the pressure of anti-globalization. In the US, this has already happened. In France, the Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Poland may occur in the near future.

In Germany, however, a return to nationalism in view of the past seems inconceivable. The German society - at least in its main part has a strong immunity against the nationalist ideology. But the troubling times are coming.

Author - Scientific Director of the German-Russian Forum

Source: Izvestia