GERMAN ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1930, Page 6

GERMAN ELECTIONS

8000 CANDIDATES

United' Press Association—By Electric : s Telegraph.—Copyright.]

BERLIN, September 13,

For the German Reichstag general election, the polling is being held throughout Germany to-(lay and on Sunday. There are eight thousand candidates, representing twenty-four parties, who are seeking the vetes of 35 million electors. The issue is virtually whether the Constitutional parties are strong enough to form a workable Government, and to avoid either a Fascist or a Socialist dictatorship. This election has been the stormiest on record, but it is believed that (there will be little change of strength in the chief parties. ■ ■ The result may not be known for several days.

FASCISTS’ HUGE GAINS,

COMMUNISTS WIN 75 SEATS.' . BERLIN, Sept. 15. The progress returns show that the German Government has Buffered a crushing defeat at the elections, which have proved a landslide in favour of the; ‘‘Hitlerites’’ (Fascists) who, at present, are the second strongest Party. They have polled six million votes, entitling them to 101 seats, as compared with only 12 seats held by them in the last Parliament. The Socialists have thus far gained 137 seats. The Communists- have gained 75 seats. The Central Party has won 64 Beats All of the other Parties ha\e been losing heavily, their losses averaging from, twenty to thirty seats each. '< v Prominent among those re-elected are ! Dr Ourtius (the Foreign Minister) and General Yon Reeckt (a head of the Army). . The hew Reichstag is likely to he the most lively. Tlje Hitlerites do not conceal their contempt for the Pailiamentary system. They are intending to make it imposiblc as quickly as they can. Their victory has been secured in the teeth of the Opposition of all sections of the press. Their catchword ip “down with everything for which the republic stands!” This catchword has caught on like wild, fire, not only with the workers, but also with .the middle class. The Hitlerites who are Pot Monarchists, desire a dictatorship similar to that of Fascist Italy. ••• FASCISTS’ REMARKABLE SUCCESS. BERLIN, Sept. 15. It is estimated that 85 per cent of the fortv-two and three-quarter million voters in Germany have attended 'the ipolls. The Bruening Ministry wll certainly not be able to form a Government of the Middle Parties in the new Reichstag, ! and it will be obliged to seek Socialist support; but every hour makes it more doubtful if even a Coalition with the Socialist and the Bourgeois Parties will be a ble to command a majority in the House. The Fascist Hitlerites success is particularly marked-in Saxony, Thuringia and Pomerania.

The advance of the Conwjunists. however, is also startling. They already have added one’and a.'half miliioiiiS to their voting strength. The Hitlerites were .practically without; any newspaper representation.! so’that their success is all the more remarkable.

It isv noteworthy that Herr Hitter, their leader, who is an Austrian house painter, will not be able to sit himself in the Reichstag, ais lie is a foreigner; • ’ ■ S THE FINAL FIGURES. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, September 15. The provisional final election figures are: Social Democrats ... ... 138 Hitlerites 107 Communists ... . v 76 Central Party ... ... 69 German Nationals 41 Peoples Party ... ... 26 State Party 22 Economic Party 23 Bavarian Peoples 18 Land League ... ... 18 *• Various small parties share 30 The. Press commenting on the result generally admit they are staggered at the success of Fascists which surpasses' the fondest hopes even of Fascists leaders. They attribute the phenomenal rise of Hitler’s supporters to the great discontent of the masses to Bruening Government’s unpopular taxation and 'the irresponsible promises of party leaders,, which the people blindly swallewed.