France's far-right National Front said yesterday it was delighted with the success of the extremist German People's Union (DVU) which won 12.9 per cent of the vote in the east German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The DVU, openly anti-Semitic and racist, on Sunday scored its biggest electoral win since the second World War, riding on a wave of frustration over record unemployment.
"This result underlines the fear of the German people, faced with losing their monetary sovereignty and handing over the mark in exchange for the euro," said the French National Front, whose firebrand leader, Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen, advocates sending home millions of immigrants and reserving jobs and welfare benefits for French-born nationals.
Saxony-Anhalt, a region of three million people, is one of six states created out of the former East Germany after reunification. It has Germany's highest unemployment rate at 25 per cent.
The German Chancellor, Dr Helmut Kohl, yesterday dismissed speculation that he would be forced to abandon his plan to lead his Christian Democrats (CDU) in September's general elections.
"This is absolutely not an issue for the CDU," he said in Bonn. However, Dr Kohl (68), seeking a record fifth term as chancellor, conceded that the CDU had suffered a "tough defeat". "We didn't manage to convince the voters of the massive efforts we have made to improve living standards in the region," he said.
The CDU plunged 12.5 points to 22 per cent, while the DVU shocked the political establishment by qualifying to enter the state parliament.
Dr Kohl added there was no doubt that a policy row in recent weeks between the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), had harmed the CDU's showing.
He made no direct reference to a call by the CSU leader, Mr Theo Waigel, for the two parties to put more emphasis on traditional right-wing issues such as immigration and crime. But Dr Kohl said the CDU was still determined to occupy the centre ground in German politics.
In the Saxony-Anhalt poll, the Social Democrats scored modest gains to capture 35.9 per cent of the vote. They will now lead negotiations with other parties (including the CDU) about forming a new state government.
The Greens crashed out of the state legislature and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), who share power with Kohl's coalition in Bonn, also fell short of the 5 per cent hurdle needed to win election.
Yesterday immigrant, Jewish and business groups in Germany united to condemn the vote.
German media also expressed horror at the result. "Black Sunday for the ruling coalition in Bonn. Black Sunday for all democrats," said Bild newspaper, Germany's best-selling daily.
National Front routs moderates in first round of regional vote; Far- right party is little more than a wealthy fanatic's toy: page 11