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[webfact]

German lawmakers to face down far-right AfD in vote for vice speaker

 

FILE PHOTO: Albrecht Glaser of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) during a news conference at the Bundespressekonferenz in Berlin, Germany, March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to clash with other parties over its nomination for a senior parliamentary post when the Bundestag meets on Tuesday for its inaugural session after last month's election.

 

The AfD won seats in the national parliament for the first time in the Sept. 24 election, hurting Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and leaving her with little choice but to try to forge a three-way coalition.

 

At Tuesday's inaugural session, outgoing finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble can count on broad support for his appointment as Bundestag president, or speaker. Lawmakers will then vote on six vice presidents - one from each party group.

 

For its vice president, the AfD has nominated Albrecht Glaser, 75, who has called Islam a political ideology rather than a religion, and said Muslims should not have the right to freedom of religion as Islam did not respect that freedom.

 

The Greens, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the radical Left Party have spoken out against Glaser's nomination.

 

"I have decided not to vote for him," Greens co-leader Katrin Goering-Eckhardt said on Monday. "If one wants to be a Bundestag vice president, then one must respect the constitution, and that includes freedom of religion."

 

Senior members of Merkel's conservative bloc have said they will not support Glaser, but the party's lawmakers will be free to choose how they vote. Later on Tuesday, the conservatives, FDP and Greens will convene for talks on forming a coalition.

 

Vice presidents of the Bundestag chair sessions, set the agenda for parliamentary business and call lawmakers to order where necessary.

 

The convention that each party in parliament is entitled to one vice speaker is not written into the constitution, and parliamentary business can continue if the AfD is unable to get Glaser elected or find a replacement.

 

    In the past, a party has had to nominate a second choice when its first choice was not elected. However, if the AfD fails to select any lawmaker who can win the role, it would be unprecedented.

 

Candidates need to be approved by an absolute majority of all sitting lawmakers, though if there is a third round of voting a candidate can win election with a simple majority of more 'yes' than 'no' votes.

 

Should Glaser fail to be elected a vice president in three rounds on Tuesday, voting will be postponed. A member of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) for 40 years, Glaser quit the party in 2012 and helped to found the AfD in 2013.

 

The opposition to his nomination demonstrates the difficulties the AfD may face in pushing its agenda - ranging from immigration and an insistence that Islam does not belong in Germany to problems it sees in the euro zone.

 

(Writing by Paul Carrel; editing by Peter Graff)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-24

[BuaBS]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

For its vice president, the AfD has nominated Albrecht Glaser, 75, who has called Islam a political ideology rather than a religion, and said Muslims should not have the right to freedom of religion as Islam did not respect that freedom.

He's absolutely right ! ( no pun intended ).

[shanesox]

All the SPD/green, open door immigration generation getting really annoyed that a large percentage voted for change in their country recently. A taste of democracy they don’t appreciate

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[WorldTravellerMUC]

While the AFD is questionable,  it is about time someone starts to speak a clear language. Since the Islam is such an open and peaceful religion, I would be as kind to allow them to build 10 times as many Mosques as there are Churches allowed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since there were (probably still are) severe penalties for even bringing a bible or a cross into that country this won't happen!

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, WorldTravellerMUC said:

While the AFD is questionable,  it is about time someone starts to speak a clear language. Since the Islam is such an open and peaceful religion, I would be as kind to allow them to build 10 times as many Mosques as there are Churches allowed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since there were (probably still are) severe penalties for even bringing a bible or a cross into that country this won't happen!

 

Correct. I think you'll find that the Saudis actively fund the building of Mosques in Western countries. I don't think you'd be welcomed if Saudi customs found a Christian bible in your possession when entering the country. Hypocrisy - more an exploitation of the tolerances in the West.

 

Our ideals of freedom of religion, free speech and tolerance are thoroughly exploited. Any who dare comment about that are branded Nazi racists as the liberal PC devotees can't stand any criticism.