Q&A: German far right bucks European trend

The intelligence agency's extremism report for 2011 has just come out

While far-right or right-wing populist parties have won seats in national parliaments in countries such as France, Italy and the Netherlands, no similar breakthrough has occurred in Germany despite a relatively favourable electoral system.

The latest annual report by the German domestic intelligence agency confirms a decline in the membership of "right-wing extremist" parties over the last few years.

However, it also reports a growing neo-Nazi scene, and evidence of widespread racist and anti-Muslim sentiments means that an upsurge in support for such parties cannot be ruled out.

<paragraph>Who are the main players?</paragraph>

The NPD fared better in the former East Germany than in the West in 2009

<paragraph>How have they fared in recent elections?</paragraph>

<paragraph>Why is the NPD stronger in the east?</paragraph>

<paragraph>Why are there more neo-Nazis?</paragraph>

<paragraph>Are far-right parties doomed?</paragraph>

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