German regional lawmaker admits drawing swastika on ballot paper next to far-right candidate's name
The speaker of the legislature in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said Thursday that someone had drawn the Nazi symbol on a ballot paper in a vote for a regional cross-border body that includes representatives from Germany as well as neighboring France and Switzerland.
The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, known by its acronym AfD, had tried and failed to get nominees elected.
Using the swastika is illegal in Germany and falls under a ban on the symbols of unconstitutional organizations.
The speaker, Muhterem Aras, described the incident as 'a disgrace for this parliament.' But, since it was a secret vote, it was not immediately clear who was responsible.
On Friday, Daniel Born, a deputy speaker of the legislature and member of the center-left Social Democrats, said that he had drawn the symbol next to the name of an AfD lawmaker.
He described his actions in a statement as a 'serious mistake' and apologized. He said that he was stepping down as deputy speaker and leaving his party's parliamentary group.
Aras called for him to give up his parliamentary seat, German news agency dpa reported.
Born said that he had not intended to make out that a far-right lawmaker had drawn the symbol. 'On the contrary, in a knee-jerk reaction, I wanted to show that votes for AfD are always votes for right-wing hatred and agitation, no matter in what election,' he said.
AfD has firmly established itself as a force in German politics since it was formed 12 years ago, even as it has drifted steadily to the right.
In Germany's national election in February, it finished second with 20.8 per cent of the vote, and is now the biggest opposition party in Berlin. However, mainstream parties refuse to work with it.
Born said in his statement that 'it no longer leaves me a minute's peace' that people are increasingly getting used to the party.
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
8 hours ago
- CBC
Trump, EU reach trade deal framework
U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the framework of a new trade deal that includes a 15 per cent tariff on most EU imports.
CBC
16 hours ago
- CBC
Trump says U.S. strikes framework trade deal with EU that puts blanket 15% tariff on bloc
The United States has struck a framework trade deal with Europe, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, averting a spiralling row between two allies who account for almost a third of global trade. The deal, which includes a 15 per cent tariff on EU goods entering the U.S. and significant EU purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment, may bring welcome clarity for EU companies. However, the baseline tariff of 15 per cent could be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared to the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, although it is better than the threatened 30 per cent rate. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Scotland for talks with Trump to push a hard-fought deal over the line. Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old U.S. trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days." Trump has periodically railed against the European Union, saying it was "formed to screw the United States" on trade. His main bugbear is the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 reached $235 billion US, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The EU points to the U.S. surplus in services, which it says partially redresses the balance.
CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
U.S. says tariff deadline of Aug 1 is firm, no extensions
U.S. President Donald Trump listens to members of the media after he arrived at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire, Scotland, Friday, July 25, 2025.(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON — The U.S. deadline of August 1 for imposing tariffs on its trading partners is firm and there will be no extensions, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday. 'So no extensions, no more grace periods. August 1, the tariffs are set. They'll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money, and off we go,' Lutnick told 'Fox News Sunday.' After the levies kick in, U.S. President Donald Trump -- who was negotiating Sunday in Scotland with European Union officials -- is still willing to keep talking, Lutnick said. Of the Europeans, Lutnick said, 'You know they're hoping they make a deal, and it's up to President Trump, who's the leader of this negotiating table. We set the table.' So far five countries have struck deals with the Trump administration ahead of the Friday deadline as it tries to overhaul the global system of largely free trade by slapping tariffs on countries that the United States deems as engaging in unfair practices. These five are Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia the Philippines, and Japan. The levies they accepted are often higher than the new base rate of 10 percent that the United States has applied to most countries since April. But they are far below the levels the Trump administration threatened to impose if no deal were reached. AFP
