Bundesbank racism row continues
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The board of Germany's Bundesbank has unanimously voted to try and get one of its members, Thilo Sarrazin, dismissed by German President Christian Wulff. The move comes amid growing controversy over controversial comments Sarrazin made about Muslim immigrants and Jews.
"The board of the Bundesbank decided unanimously today to ask the president of the republic to dismiss Dr. Thilo Sarrazin as a member of the board," said the bank, which doesn’t have the right to dismiss Sarrazin itself.
Sarrazin outraged many in the German republic after he told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag on Sunday that Muslims have more problems assimilating in Europe than other immigrant groups and that Jews have a particular gene.” His book released the following day, the title of which translates as Germany Does Itself In,” has been deemed racist by many, with comments such as Germany’s Muslim population will harm the country’s economy in the long term.
Sarrazin is defending his right to express himself, although Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the bank to act, calling the remarks “completely unacceptable.”
The Board is reported to be struggling to find a way to legally oust Sarrazin, who told a press conference in Berlin this week that he “know[s] my employment contract, that’s for sure.”
But a majority of Germans polled yesterday said there is no need to dismiss Sarrazin from the Bundesbank.
