thanks for translating that, it was quite interesting. From a distance the PDS' move toward reactionary, racist nationalism seems part and parcel with other ex-Communists parties across former eastern bloc and Soviet states. But, pragmatically, is this so bad for German politics? The article makes a good case that it's bad for Marxists, but if they're as insignficant in Germany as they are in the States then wouldn't this certainly be outweighed by fact that the New Left has essentially replaced the far right parties as the political home for the disaffected? Before the New Left got going, pundits said the far right parties had a good chance of gaining some seats in the election -- now those parties are off the map.
-- adam