Tremonti: Some Trends Today Remind Me of Weimar Germany
Italian politician Giulio Tremonti has warned that some current political trends remind him of the Weimar Republic, the German government that existed before the Nazi period almost a century ago.
In his comments, Tremonti said the political right should not follow extremists, people or groups with very strong and often dangerous political views.
He was speaking about the rise of far-right movements across Europe. In Germany, the party AfD (Alternative for Germany) has grown in popularity.
According to the report, AfD has succeeded because it gives people the idea that they can once again influence and change what happens in their country.
Many voters feel that traditional parties have not solved their problems, so they look for new political options.
The report also examines the strength of far-right parties in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, based on recent opinion polls.
These polls measure how much public support different political parties currently have.
The data suggest that far-right parties are gaining ground in all three countries, though the report does not give exact percentages.
Tremonti's comparison to Weimar Germany is notable because that period is remembered as a time of political instability that eventually led to extremism taking power.
His comments add to an ongoing European debate about how mainstream parties should respond to the growing appeal of far-right movements.
Vocabulary7 words
- Weimar Republic
- Germany's government before the Nazi period
- extremists
- people with very strong, dangerous political views
- AfD
- a far-right political party in Germany
- far-right
- political groups with extreme, nationalist ideas
- opinion polls
- surveys that show what people think
- mainstream
- the usual, most common political parties
- instability
- a situation that keeps changing and feels unsafe
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Weimar Republic 2. It gives people the feeling they can change their country again 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italian politician Giulio Tremonti has warned that some current political trends remind him of the _____ Republic.
Tremonti said the political right should not follow _____.
In Germany, the party _____ has grown in popularity.
AfD has succeeded because it gives people the idea that they can once again _____ what happens in their country.
Many voters feel that _____ parties have not solved their problems.
The report also examines the strength of far-right parties in Germany, France, and the _____.
These polls measure how much public support different political parties currently _____.
The data suggest that far-right parties are gaining ground in all three _____.
Tremonti's comparison to Weimar Germany is notable because that period is remembered as a time of political _____.