Bavarian Independence Party Tells Sputnik About EU's Future Fragmentation
© Flickr/ Henning Hofmann
Europe
13:07 24.05.2016(updated 16:44 24.05.2016) Get short URL
7959212
It calls for "competitive federalism" from the central government, and greater direct democracy including a referendum on independence from Germany.
Following elections in 2013 the party gained representation in four of Bayern's seven districts, and the recent defections give the independence movement six percent of seats on Munich's city council. Amann said the party aims to use its newfound influence to push for a referendum on independence from Germany.
"In my opinion our party remains to a great extent faithful to our principles. We have never betrayed our liberal-conservative basis, as perhaps other parties have done. Our party is still relatively small and the atmosphere in our ranks is no doubt more benevolent than other parties," Amann said.
"We position ourselves as a liberal-conservative party of the center-right. We are absolutely not right-wing populists."
"What distinguishes us from other parties on Germany's political spectrum is definitely Bavarian sovereignty. That means that the goal of our party is the state independence of Bavaria, so that Munich no longer receives directives from Berlin. The Alternative for Germany manifesto does not contain this provision, nor does the Christian Social Union (CSU). Regardless of that party's statements about its independence from the CDU, it is nevertheless a regional wing of that party."
Amann explained that Bavaria's recent obligation to impose directives from the government in Berlin during the migrant crisis have made it more imperative that Munich receives greater autonomy.
"On the one hand we of course recognize the right to asylum. That means that people who are being persecuted on political grounds have the right to asylum. At the same time, in our view, Bavaria should decide for itself who can eventually come and who can't."
"That's why, at the moment, we don't see any serious alternative to border control. That doesn't mean completely closed borders. But only Bavaria can decide who can come and who can't come to Bavaria. And in today's situation we, unfortunately, do not see an alternative to border control."
Amann said that the imposition of border controls would only lead to a barrier with the rest of Germany if the government there refuses to control immigration.
"We are not planning any kind of fence between Bavaria and Germany. In principle we accept the Schengen agreement as a positive thing. Of course, if the situation develops in a way which confronts us with an uncontrollable flow of refugees from Germany, then we will be forced to impose controls on the border with the rest of Germany."
The politician explained that increased autonomy from Berlin also has a financial aspect, since an independent Bavaria would not have to contribute money for the rest of Germany.
"Bavaria finances one-quarter of the federal republic. If we were independent, that money would stay here with us. Our economic situation would be significantly better than it is today."
"Of course, that does not exclude certain neighborly help in a difficult situation, but only on a voluntary basis. In any case it means a rejection of the financial compensation that goes on between federal states, no small part of which is borne by Bavaria."
Amann said that Bavaria is hoping to follow the example of Scotland, which held a referendum on independence from the UK in September 2014, and that the party believes holding more referendums is the way to greater popular democracy.
If a majority of voters want to leave the federation with Germany, he said the Bavaria party would support similar movements that might emerge in other German states in a domino effect, and is indifferent to the fate of Germany as a federation once Bavaria is gone.
"If there is a majority in those states calling for independence, then we give them our blessing. Our goal is a Europe of the regions, that is, a system where issues are resolved at the lowest level. The regions themselves will choose the form of governance."
"I wouldn't have a problem if the federal republic breaks up, but I also wouldn't have a problem if it remains in the same form, as our neighbor."
An independent Bavaria would also hold a referendum on membership of the EU, which is "too bureaucratic and centralized."
"In principle, we are not against the idea of European cooperation. The problem is the form that the EU has taken at the moment. This EU, unfortunately, has turned into a centralist monster which lays claim to ever more functions which would be more appropriate to a lower level."
"In my understanding the EU is an administrative unit, and I am always skeptical about treating administrative units like some kind of god."
© Flickr/ Henning Hofmann
Europe
13:07 24.05.2016(updated 16:44 24.05.2016) Get short URL
7959212
The pro-independence Bavaria Party is enjoying increasing popularity, including the recent defection of four Munich city councilors, and aims to use its newfound popularity to campaign for a referendum on independence from Germany, district chairman Harold Amann told Sputnik.
The party was established in 1946 and has a liberal-conservative political ideology, campaigning for individual freedom from the "surveillance state," and "the tendency to increasingly regulate and limit the behavior of citizens," for example the recent smoking ban in Bavaria.It calls for "competitive federalism" from the central government, and greater direct democracy including a referendum on independence from Germany.
Following elections in 2013 the party gained representation in four of Bayern's seven districts, and the recent defections give the independence movement six percent of seats on Munich's city council. Amann said the party aims to use its newfound influence to push for a referendum on independence from Germany.
"In my opinion our party remains to a great extent faithful to our principles. We have never betrayed our liberal-conservative basis, as perhaps other parties have done. Our party is still relatively small and the atmosphere in our ranks is no doubt more benevolent than other parties," Amann said.
"We position ourselves as a liberal-conservative party of the center-right. We are absolutely not right-wing populists."
"What distinguishes us from other parties on Germany's political spectrum is definitely Bavarian sovereignty. That means that the goal of our party is the state independence of Bavaria, so that Munich no longer receives directives from Berlin. The Alternative for Germany manifesto does not contain this provision, nor does the Christian Social Union (CSU). Regardless of that party's statements about its independence from the CDU, it is nevertheless a regional wing of that party."
Amann explained that Bavaria's recent obligation to impose directives from the government in Berlin during the migrant crisis have made it more imperative that Munich receives greater autonomy.
"On the one hand we of course recognize the right to asylum. That means that people who are being persecuted on political grounds have the right to asylum. At the same time, in our view, Bavaria should decide for itself who can eventually come and who can't."
"That's why, at the moment, we don't see any serious alternative to border control. That doesn't mean completely closed borders. But only Bavaria can decide who can come and who can't come to Bavaria. And in today's situation we, unfortunately, do not see an alternative to border control."
Amann said that the imposition of border controls would only lead to a barrier with the rest of Germany if the government there refuses to control immigration.
"We are not planning any kind of fence between Bavaria and Germany. In principle we accept the Schengen agreement as a positive thing. Of course, if the situation develops in a way which confronts us with an uncontrollable flow of refugees from Germany, then we will be forced to impose controls on the border with the rest of Germany."
The politician explained that increased autonomy from Berlin also has a financial aspect, since an independent Bavaria would not have to contribute money for the rest of Germany.
"Bavaria finances one-quarter of the federal republic. If we were independent, that money would stay here with us. Our economic situation would be significantly better than it is today."
"Of course, that does not exclude certain neighborly help in a difficult situation, but only on a voluntary basis. In any case it means a rejection of the financial compensation that goes on between federal states, no small part of which is borne by Bavaria."
Amann said that Bavaria is hoping to follow the example of Scotland, which held a referendum on independence from the UK in September 2014, and that the party believes holding more referendums is the way to greater popular democracy.
If a majority of voters want to leave the federation with Germany, he said the Bavaria party would support similar movements that might emerge in other German states in a domino effect, and is indifferent to the fate of Germany as a federation once Bavaria is gone.
"If there is a majority in those states calling for independence, then we give them our blessing. Our goal is a Europe of the regions, that is, a system where issues are resolved at the lowest level. The regions themselves will choose the form of governance."
"I wouldn't have a problem if the federal republic breaks up, but I also wouldn't have a problem if it remains in the same form, as our neighbor."
An independent Bavaria would also hold a referendum on membership of the EU, which is "too bureaucratic and centralized."
"In principle, we are not against the idea of European cooperation. The problem is the form that the EU has taken at the moment. This EU, unfortunately, has turned into a centralist monster which lays claim to ever more functions which would be more appropriate to a lower level."
"In my understanding the EU is an administrative unit, and I am always skeptical about treating administrative units like some kind of god."
Yesterday at 7:52 am by Rocky
» utube 3/28/24 MM&C Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - SWIFT - Purchasing Power - Urban Renaissance - Releas
Yesterday at 7:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Mandalawi: Iraq is witnessing competition between major companies...and the House of Representati
Yesterday at 7:49 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the importance of the role of programmers in developing the w
Yesterday at 7:46 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Industry and Minerals follows up on the technical and production performance of the
Yesterday at 7:45 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Finance is following up on the field the progress of the newly implemented ASYCUDA s
Yesterday at 7:44 am by Rocky
» Statistics: There are more than 15 million bank accounts in Iraq
Yesterday at 7:42 am by Rocky
» Representative: One paragraph hinders the passage of a general amnesty within the House of Represent
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: “The draft federal budget law will be devoid of new job grades.”
Yesterday at 7:36 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary action to resolve the fate of “food security contracts” in 15 governorates
Yesterday at 7:35 am by Rocky
» 300 factories turned into "iron scrap" in Diyala
Yesterday at 7:34 am by Rocky
» A deputy expects the dollar exchange rate to reach 140 Iraqi dinars
Yesterday at 7:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Yasiri: The American administration is working hard to destroy the Iraqi economy
Yesterday at 7:31 am by Rocky
» Infographic: The highest annual salaries of leaders of Arab countries
Yesterday at 7:30 am by Rocky
» Communications announces that the electronic signature project has reached advanced stages
Yesterday at 7:29 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Integrity presents a file related to Kuwaiti violations of Iraqi oil
Yesterday at 7:27 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary move to include amendments to Parliament’s internal regulations on the agenda (documen
Yesterday at 7:25 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi President urges the Minister of Finance to expedite the payment of salaries to the Kurdist
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Central Bank of Iraq sales exceeded $251 million at today’s auction
Yesterday at 7:21 am by Rocky
» The Foreign Minister questions the "Iraqi resistance" attacks against Israel: the other side did not
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Labor announces progress in the electronic payment system
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» Interior Ministry: For the first time, we controlled the smuggling of petroleum derivatives by 98 pe
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» International companies offer offers to invest in the Dhi Qar marshes.. What distinguishes them?
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» “Tough” comments on interest rates raise the dollar globally
Yesterday at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fifth largest oil supplier to South Korea in a month
Yesterday at 7:12 am by Rocky
» Recovering more than 100 billion as a result of more than 200,000 employees on social welfare
Yesterday at 7:11 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese consultant announces the completion of Baghdad Metro track designs
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses ending the problem of triple-shift schools
Yesterday at 7:07 am by Rocky
» Iraq begins building two new tankers to transport petroleum products
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Forming a council for “competition and preventing monopoly”
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Features of an Iraqi-Turkish agreement regarding the status of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
Yesterday at 7:02 am by Rocky
» {Al-Buzrajiya} between the hammer of fraud and the power of the owners
Yesterday at 7:01 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Yesterday at 6:59 am by Rocky
» An agreement with Britain in the field of securities
Yesterday at 6:58 am by Rocky
» Discussions between Baghdad and Ankara to open a new port
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Trade: About 11 million citizens updated their new card information
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Electronic payment is sustainable growth
Yesterday at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Experts: Iraq qualifies to be an important tourist country
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Amending the Health Professions Law “robs” scientists of the central appointment 3 years after it wa
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Is the “blessings package” that Erbil paid to the citizens of Kurdistan related to the elections?
Yesterday at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Exceeded 5,000 projects.. Allocating 10 trillion dinars to support governorate reconstruction plans
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» “His need no longer exists.” Parliamentary Finance confirms the necessity of returning the retiremen
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» To communicate with the bases... 12 directives from Al-Sadr, including blocking numbers for non-gove
Yesterday at 5:15 am by Rocky
» In an interview with "Baghdad Today"... an Iranian researcher reveals the importance of Haniyeh's vi
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» After it was 63 trillion in 2023... the 2024 budget deficit will rise to 80 trillion dinars
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliament reveals the date of the first evaluation of the governors and determines the party respon
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic informs Al-Araji and Al-Basri: Momentum must be mobilized to eliminate
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Can the Federal Court sue others? A legal clarification of its response mechanism to abuse
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Despite promises to soon stop burning gas.. What is the secret behind Iraq renewing the Iranian gas
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Advisor to Al-Sudani: The dollar is on the way to further decline, and 70% of Iraqi traders have ent
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Iraq exported more than 99 million barrels of oil last February
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Barzani “gives good news” to Kurdistan employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Alia Nassif: Nour Zuhair returned to the port of Umm Qasr to make deals.. An influential Shiite forc
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the movement of nearly 500 stalled projects
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» A government strategy to enhance investments.. Iraq is on the verge of a new era of economic develop
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Ranging between 20% and 50%.. The Kurdistan government decides to reduce service fees, customs dutie
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The reform approach in the security services is an integral part of reform in other secto
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Everyone in Iraq wants the Sudanese visit to Washington to be successful, even the factions!
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Sources and experts expect the agenda.. in his bag is the Baghdad dollar and the factions’ truce, bu
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» The decision to raise gasoline prices arouses the ire of drivers...a reminder of the large demonstra
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services: 3 important hospitals in Baghdad will enter service at the end of the year
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Iraq signs a contract to supply Iranian gas for a period of five years
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Parliament adds a voting paragraph on amending the Penal Code to its agenda
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» His political advisor: We are not afraid of Sudanese entering the elections alone
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services explain the reasons for the rise in real estate prices in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Attia, criticizing the government's decisions: "The citizen's feathers will be ruffled without servi
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Communications: Zain Iraq and Asiacell did not pay their debts
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» The Governor of Karbala announces the imminent establishment of the largest industrial city in the c
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» A government determination to end the issue of displaced persons in the middle of this year
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Iraq buys gas from Kurdistan to generate electricity
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary signatures to include an amendment to the internal regulations to decide the choice of
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» In Basra.. a demonstration against foreign workers in Iraqi companies (video)
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: Presidency of Parliament is an entitlement to the constituents, and calling it a “frame
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Electronic food supplies in 6 governorates... covering 11 million Iraqis and “writing off” about 700
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Corruption of the Ministry of Transport.. Representatives express their surprise at the minister’s s
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» The biggest supporter of the invasion of Iraq.. The death of former US Senator Joe Lieberman
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked “late.” A list of the most and least safe Arab countries for women
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers exempts the Gulf Interconnection Authority from guarantee fees: it is a gov
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:48 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised”
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:46 am by Rocky
» Popular Movement: We have many economic options away from American hegemony
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:42 am by Rocky
» The Oil Parliament stresses the need to transfer part of the revenues to the producing governorates
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:41 am by Rocky
» It will cover 14 regions in eastern Iraq.. A deputy reveals the “border electricity” project
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:40 am by Rocky
» Experts Warn Mass Migration Threatens US Food Security
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:37 am by Bama Diva
» Al-Fateh: America occupies Iraq through agreements
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:37 am by Rocky
» Anger in Iraq over a "sudden decision"... and a reminder of a "general strike" that paralyzed the co
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:34 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee: Parliament is discussing today a decision that “disturbed” the Iraqis
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:33 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Electricity: Our production will reach 27 thousand megawatts by May
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:31 am by Rocky
» Diagnosing the “most important” problems in the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil.. What is the rel
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:30 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Fiqh Academy and the Sunni Endowment issue a fatwa to pay Zakat al-Fitr
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:28 am by Rocky
» The National Bank of Iraq continues its digital transformation by launching its new banking system a
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:26 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and the Central Bank are discussing the housing initiative
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:25 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the restart of 500 suspended projects
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Barti assesses the region's employees: Your salaries are insured and will be paid after resettlem
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:21 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American discussions in anticipation of the Sudanese visit
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:20 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Turkey hold meetings in Ankara to discuss technical issues related to the development road
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:17 am by Rocky
» A government parliamentary agreement to support budget revenues and governorate allocations for inve
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:16 am by Rocky
» Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:15 am by Rocky
» A Kurdish-French agreement to develop trade and economic relations
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:13 am by Rocky
» Exchange companies in Mosul demand that they be entered into the currency selling window
Wed 27 Mar 2024, 7:12 am by Rocky