As one of the few German politicians who don't "look German," Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Philipp Rösler is frequently confronted with questions about his Vietnamese heritage. This week, a reference to his "Asian-looking appearance" even came from within his own Free Democratic Party (FDP), of all places.
The controversial statement, made by the FDP's state leader and integration minister in Hesse, Jörg-Uwe Hahn, sparked widespread accusations of racism from rival parties that now have both Rösler and his party scrambling to explain.
It was simply a misunderstanding, and not meant to be racist at all, party members insist. But they also say that they have heard racist comments from voters about FDP party leader Rösler, and have called for the problem to be addressed.
"I don't understand the fuss about the much-criticized interview comment by Jörg-Uwe Hahn on Thursday," said a statement released on Friday by Rösler, who was born in Vietnam and adopted by German parents as an infant. Not only have he and Hahn worked together for years, but they are also bound by a "personal friendship," he added. Furthermore, Hahn has been a successful integration minister in Hesse, making him "above any suspicion of racism."
The interview, given to the Frankfurter Neue Presse on Thursday by Hahn, read as follows: "When it comes to Philipp Rösler, I would certainly like to know whether our society has come far enough to accept an Asian-looking vice chancellor any longer." This was interpreted by opposition parties as a racist attack by the member of the FDP, the junior coalition partner party in Angela Merkel's governing center-right coalition.
Hahn rejected such criticism, though. "I wanted to point out that in our society there is a widespread, often subliminal racism," he explained. "One can't remain silent about this societal problem, and must discuss it in order to tackle it instead." » | kla -- with wire reports | `Friday, February 08, 2013
