German minister set to ride out storm

Admission: Joschka Fischer says militant past was wrong

By European Affairs Correspondent
William Horsley

It appears German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer may ride out the storm over the revelation that, as a young man, he was a militant left-wing activist who took part in violent battles with the police.

The political opposition has questioned whether Mr Fischer is fit to remain in his post.

But public opinion seems to be less than outraged. And German newspapers, for the most part, say that the minister should be allowed to stay on.

Mr Fischer, the best-known figure among Germany's Greens, has admitted his actions were wrong, but his critics insist that his admission has damaged Germany's international image.

Fascination

At the heart of this argument is a series of photographs published this week in a news magazine, showing Joschka Fischer as a young street protester some 27 years ago, apparently beating up a policeman who lay on the ground during a demonstration.

Mr Fischer has admitted that in those days he was open to the fascination of revolutionary violence.

But on Thursday he apologised, saying his actions, especially the use of violence against the police, were a big mistake.

So far the signs are that Mr Fischer, who is 52 and considered the country's most popular political figure, may survive the storm.

Confession

Leaders of the conservative Christian Democrats, and their allies in the Bavarian Christian Social Union, have called for his resignation.

They insist that huge damage has been done to Germany's international image and that Mr Fischer's confession casts doubt on the commitment of Germany's Greens to non-violence in politics.

The generally favourable public and media reaction will again be put to the test in two weeks' time, when Joschka Fischer is due to appear in court as a witness in the murder trial of Hans-Joachim Klein.

'Role model'

Mr Klein is a suspected associate of the convicted terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and he testified in court that Joschka Fischer used to be his "role model".

The public in Germany and elsewhere may also soon be confronted with more graphic reminders of Mr Fischer's past as a left-wing street fighter in Frankfurt.

Bettina Roehl - the daughter of the Baader-Meinhof gang's Ulrike Meinhof - is the author of a book on the left-wing militant movement of the 1960s and and 1970s.

She uncovered the incriminating photos of Joschka Fischer, is now threatening to release the original video footage of the same scenes.

A spokesman for Germany's police union has warned of a serious impact on today's younger generation, saying they would be encouraged to think that someone who had beaten up policemen could still be foreign minister of Germany.