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| Germany vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel defends giving middle finger to neo-Nazi protesters | Germany vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel defends giving middle finger to neo-Nazi protesters |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Germany’s vice-chancellor has defended sticking his middle finger up at a group of neo-nazi protesters. | Germany’s vice-chancellor has defended sticking his middle finger up at a group of neo-nazi protesters. |
| Sigmar Gabriel, who is also the country’s economy minister, said his only mistake was not using both hands. | Sigmar Gabriel, who is also the country’s economy minister, said his only mistake was not using both hands. |
| The country’s second-in-command was accosted by protesters outside a meeting in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, who were carrying banners with the word “Traitor” on them. | The country’s second-in-command was accosted by protesters outside a meeting in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, who were carrying banners with the word “Traitor” on them. |
| They accused Mr Gabriel of betraying the memory of his father, who was a Nazi supporter. “Your father loved his country, and what have you done to it? You’re destroying it,” one protester said. | They accused Mr Gabriel of betraying the memory of his father, who was a Nazi supporter. “Your father loved his country, and what have you done to it? You’re destroying it,” one protester said. |
| Mr Gabriel has previously openly condemned the fascist beliefs of his father, who he says denied the Holocaust until his death in 2012. | Mr Gabriel has previously openly condemned the fascist beliefs of his father, who he says denied the Holocaust until his death in 2012. |
| In an interview in 2013, Mr Gabriel said he severed contact with his father at the age of 18 after discovering his Nazi sympathies. | In an interview in 2013, Mr Gabriel said he severed contact with his father at the age of 18 after discovering his Nazi sympathies. |
| After being confronted, the politician laughed and raised his middle finger at the far-right group before walking away. | After being confronted, the politician laughed and raised his middle finger at the far-right group before walking away. |
| He said his critics should think about what they would do if faced with a group of "young, aggressive, swearing and ready-for-violence Nazis". | He said his critics should think about what they would do if faced with a group of "young, aggressive, swearing and ready-for-violence Nazis". |
| “I made only one mistake, I have not used both hands,” he said in the interview on German television. | “I made only one mistake, I have not used both hands,” he said in the interview on German television. |
| Mr Gabriel’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) said at the time the gesture was an “emotional reaction”. | Mr Gabriel’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) said at the time the gesture was an “emotional reaction”. |
| The SPD released a statement saying: "Obviously Sigmar Gabriel does not regard that gesture to be an appropriate form of everyday communication, but communication was not possible with bellowing neo-Nazis who were clearly prepared to use violence." | The SPD released a statement saying: "Obviously Sigmar Gabriel does not regard that gesture to be an appropriate form of everyday communication, but communication was not possible with bellowing neo-Nazis who were clearly prepared to use violence." |
| According to local media, after the incident, Mr Gabriel invited the protesters for a discussion about their beliefs on the condition they remove their masks. They declined to attend. | According to local media, after the incident, Mr Gabriel invited the protesters for a discussion about their beliefs on the condition they remove their masks. They declined to attend. |
| Mr Gabriel has been a general supporter of Angela Merkel's lenient stance on immigration. Yet he has also criticized Ms Merkel's "open door" policy, | Mr Gabriel has been a general supporter of Angela Merkel's lenient stance on immigration. Yet he has also criticized Ms Merkel's "open door" policy, |
| "I, we always said that it's inconceivable for Germany to take in a million people every year," Mr Gabriel told German broadcaster ZDF on Saturday. | "I, we always said that it's inconceivable for Germany to take in a million people every year," Mr Gabriel told German broadcaster ZDF on Saturday. |
| Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown significantly in Germany. In 2015, the number of ultra right-wing demonstrations in Germany almost trebled. | Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown significantly in Germany. In 2015, the number of ultra right-wing demonstrations in Germany almost trebled. |