The Local Germany

Can euro rescue absolve Holocaust guilt?

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:36:00 +0200

Former Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin has provoked outrage by arguing that Germany's euro policy is driven by a Holocaust guilt trip. He also said the single currency was always a bad idea. Does he have a point? Have your say.

Ex-banker: German euro rescue is Holocaust guilt

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:09:00 +0200

Ex-central banker turned controversy merchant Thilo Sarrazin has attracted fresh outrage with a book claiming Germany's European policy is driven by guilt for World War II and the Holocaust.

Sarrazin's wife says she was bullied as teacher

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:21:00 +0200

A German politician whose book criticising multiculturalism caused national outrage is being followed into print by his wife - who has written about being bullied as a teacher in a Berlin school.

Critics slam 'recycling' of notorious Sarrazin book

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:04:00 +0100

Thilo Sarrazin’s book “Germany Abolishes Itself” is once again the focus of controversy. Plans by a Czech artist to collect, destroy and recycle copies of the book have been severely criticized for perceived Nazi connotations.

Germany looks back at 50 years of Turkish immigration

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:45:00 +0200

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the treaty bringing hundreds of thousands of Turkish "guest workers" to Germany, a move which dramatically altered the fabric of German society.

Sarrazin blasts SPD immigrant quota plan

Wed, 04 May 2011 12:55:00 +0200

Former Bundesbank executive Thilo Sarrazin has made further inflammatory remarks about immigrants just days after he was given a reprieve by his own Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Sarrazin remains SPD member

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0200

Thilo Sarrazin, former Bundesbank board member and author of a book on immigration which caused controversy and outrage, will remain a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) it was decided on Thursday night.

Muslim group lauds Wulff's remarks on Islam

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:14:00 +0200

A senior Muslim representative in Germany praised on Monday comments by President Christian Wulff that Islam was integral part of the country's society, aimed at cooling a heated debate on integration.

Most Germans see Muslims as a burden

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:36:00 +0200

More than half of Germans see Muslim immigrants as a drag on the country, a poll published Thursday has found.

Reports of Sarrazin's pay-off provoke fury

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:55:00 +0200

Reports that the Bundesbank agreed to increase disgraced board member Thilo Sarrazin’s pension payments by €1,000 a month to accelerate his departure have been greeted with fury and denials.

Von der Leyen blasts hard line on immigrants

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:18:00 +0200

As Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen rejected calls to slash welfare payments to unemployed immigrants who don’t send their children to day care, the government on Wednesday pledged to improve its integration efforts.

Public support for Sarrazin puts politicians in spin

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:13:00 +0200

Nearly a fifth of Germans would vote for a political protest party headed by Thilo Sarrazin, a poll revealed on Sunday, as mainstream politicians argue about how best to react to his statements on Muslims, immigration and Jews.

Two-thirds of Germans disagree with Sarrazin

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:50:00 +0200

Nearly two-thirds of Germans disagree with controversial central banker Thilo Sarrazin’s claim that rampant immigration is making Germany “dumber,” a poll released Friday has found.

Sarrazin sparks calls for new integration debate

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:17:00 +0200

With President Christian Wulff expected to announce soon the dismissal of central banker Thilo Sarrazin over inflammatory race and immigration comments, leading politicians called on Friday for a renewed integration debate.

German Media Roundup: Sarrazin's radioactive immigration debate

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:17:00 +0200

Inflammatory comments on Muslims and race by Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin have caused widespread outrage in Germany. Newspapers in The Local’s media roundup on Tuesday explore the repercussions.

Sarrazin will be hard to sack, judge warns

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:03:00 +0200

After Germany’s central bank stopped short of sacking board member Thilo Sarrazin over his incendiary remarks on race and immigration, a legal expert warned Tuesday it could be difficult to force him from his post at the Bundesbank.

Sarrazin: Muslims not compatible with Germany

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:58:00 +0200

Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin reiterated his criticism of Muslim immigrants on Monday, saying the vast majority were not fit to integrate into German society. Meanwhile the Social Democrats prepared to kick him out of the party.

Sarrazin's Jewish 'gene' comments spark outrage

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:22:00 +0200

Already under fire for his discriminatory comments against Muslims, Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin sparked further outrage with controversial remarks regarding Jews in an interview published on Sunday.

Sarrazin says Germany 'dumber' through immigration

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:34:00 +0200

Controversial Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin made further anti-immigrant comments this week, alleging that Germany is getting “dumber” because of its foreign population.

Berlin plans 'integration contract' for immigrants

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:31:00 +0100

The government is planning to institute "integration contracts" for immigrants to encourage them to become contributing members of the country’s society, Germany’s integration commissioner announced on Monday.