German far-right campaigns against Turkey

The chairman of the National Democratic Party (NPD), Udo Voigt, and Gerhard Frey, the leader of the German People’s Union (DVU), said their parties were not "xenophobic." But Voight was quoted by Anatolia as saying, "We reject a multicultural society."

DVU is seen as an openly far-right and anti-Semitic organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, openly proclaiming "work only for Germans" and "foreign criminals out," while the NPD is known for its pro-white views.

Public opposition against Turkey’s EU bid is strong in Germany, although Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been a firm backer of Turkey among the other European leaders.

Frey, speaking to German television station ARD, said the DVU and NPD planned to field joint candidates in Germany’s 2006 elections. "In the German general election in 2006 the candidates will run under the banner NPD/DVU to underline the alliance. In the next European Parliament election they will run under the name DVU/NPD." Voigt confirmed the move, said ARD.

German unionist conservative parties, the German Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Socialist Union (CSU) have been pushing for "a privileged partnership" instead of full membership for Turkey. CDU leader Angela Merkel, the originator of the suggestion, has continued to insist on priviliged partnership even after the EU Commission recommended in its report last month that the EU Council make a decision to open accession talks with Turkey.