Germany central banker condemned

[Ret10Echo]

What truth is wrapped in all of this and is it possible to sift through the rascist comments and come to a dollars and cents (Euro) cost?

Top of the charts in Germany??

30 August 2010 Last updated at 18:04 ET

Germany central banker condemned for 'racist' book
Mr Sarrazin says his book should be read in full before being criticised
The German government has condemned an official with the country's central bank on the publication of his book on immigration issues.

Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin's book, Germany Abolishes Itself, states that Muslim immigrants refuse to integrate.

In a newspaper interview about the book, he said that "all Jews share a particular gene".

The Bundesbank distanced itself from Mr Sarrazin.

'Completely unacceptable'

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"The government views the reputation of the Bundesbank as definitely harmed, domestically and abroad, by Mr Sarrazin's comments," said Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert.

"The Bundesbank must be concerned about this."

On Sunday, Mrs Merkel said Mr Sarrazin's remarks were "completely unacceptable" and urged the Bundesbank to act.

In a statement published on Monday, the Bundesbank condemned Mr Sarrazin's remarks as "discriminatory".

It said the bank's executive board would meet with Mr Sarrazin before deciding on further measures.

The Social Democratic Party, of which Mr Sarrazin is a long-standing member, said it was taking action to expel Mr Sarrazin.

Mr Sarrazin has defended his comments and his writing, saying: "I can't imagine the chancellor has had the time to read my book."

"It's very balanced," he said.

In the book he says that Muslim immigrants are a drain on German society.

Mr Sarrazin writes: "I don't want us to end up as strangers in our own land, not even on a regional basis."

He also writes that "most of the cultural and economic problems are concentrated in a group of the five to six million immigrants from Muslim countries".

Germany has more than four million Muslims, most of them of Turkish origin.

Members of Germany's Jewish and Turkish communities have condemned the book as racist.

Based on advance orders, it has shot to the top of Germany's sales chart.

From Deutsche Bundesbank

Press release
Frankfurt am Main
30 August 2010

Statement by the Deutsche Bundesbank
The Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank distances itself categorically from discriminatory remarks made by its member, Dr Thilo Sarrazin. Dr Sarrazin, a former member of the Berlin Senate, has repeatedly and persistently made provocative statements, especially on issues relating to immigration. These statements have no connection the tasks to the Deutsche Bundesbank. In making such remarks, Dr Sarrazin is not expressing the opinions and views of the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Owing to their special position, the members of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank are obliged, in any political activity, to exercise the moderation and restraint commensurate with their position with regard to society at large and with due regard to the duties of their office. In his statements, Dr Sarrazin has been breaching this obligation repeatedly and to an increasingly serious extent.

Under the code of conduct for members of the Deutsche Bundesbank’s Executive Board, members of the Executive Board are to conduct themselves at all times in a manner “that upholds and promotes the Bundesbank’s reputation and the public’s trust in the Bundesbank” (No 1 (3)). The Executive Board of the Bundesbank finds that Dr Sarrazin’s remarks are damaging to the reputation of the Bundesbank. Although such comments are declared to be a personal opinion and Dr Sarrazin expressly does not speak on behalf of the Bundesbank, these views are increasingly being ascribed to the Bundesbank.

There is no place for discrimination at the Bundesbank. Dr Sarrazin’s disparaging and derogatory remarks are capable of causing considerable disruption to the workplace environment, especially since many members of staff at the Bundesbank have an immigrant background. The Bundesbank expressly wishes to thank all its members of staff for their contribution to the fulfilment of the Bundesbank’s tasks and duties and for the loyalty they have shown to the institution.

The Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank will immediately conduct a discussion with Dr Sarrazin, give him a hearing and take prompt further action.