Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., July 19, 2007 Av 4, 5767 | | Israel Time: 21:33 (EST+7)
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (AP Archives)
Last update - 17:58 18/07/2007
Polish member of EU parliament compares Merkel to Hitler
By Reuters

A Polish far-right member of the European Parliament compared German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Adolf Hitler in comments published Wednesday, which could further sour Polish-German relations.

Maciej Giertych, whose League of Polish Families is a junior partner in Poland's ruling coalition, accused Merkel of trying to dominate the European Union. He has a reputation for causing offence and recently faced accusations of anti-Semitism.

"Hitler also wanted to create a super-state. Angela Merkel is acting in the same way, but she is more sly," Giertych said in the interview with Zycie Warszawy daily.

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"She doesn't use the argument of force. She pretends to make concessions, but in reality she makes sure that Germany has the strongest position."

Relations between Poland and Germany are at their worst in years after talks on a new EU treaty last month, when Poland invoked its suffering under Nazi occupation during World War Two to push for a bigger share of voting rights.

Poland's ruling twins, President Lech and Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, eventually agreed to the treaty under heavy pressure from EU heavyweights, but Giertych's party is fighting to stop it from being ratified.

The European Parliament has singled out the party for being behind the rise of xenophobia and racism in Poland. Giertych himself was reprimanded by the head of the parliament for publishing a booklet widely criticized as anti-Semitic.

Giertych is the father of Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Roman Giertych who has himself compared Merkel's negotiating tactics at the EU summit with the commands of Nazi soldiers.

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  1.   Well, cowardly "heros"... 18:47  |  Judge 18/07/07
  2.   This is sad. Merkel is one of the most positive things 18:50  |  Zvulun 18/07/07
  3.   Well, cowardly "heros"... 19:00  |  Judge 18/07/07
  4.   Polish Car Thieves 19:36  |  Walther Kaufmann 18/07/07
  5.   Everybody knows that Germany ....... 19:45  |  dave 18/07/07
  6.   to Kaufmann 22:08  |  Justine 18/07/07
  7.   Poles Have Right To Be Angry 05:28  |  PJ 19/07/07
  8.   Not representative of Poland 20:53  |  Tobias Riepe 19/07/07
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