http://www.theberlinpaper.com/home/38701.html
Berlin – Several newly elected neo-Nazis took up seats today in Berlin borough governments, the result of their NPD party’s winning of three percent or more of votes in city boroughs during the 17 September 2006 election.

The NPD won seats in the east Berlin boroughs of Treptow-Köpenick, Lichtenberg, and Marzahn-Hellersdorf; and in Neukölln, a poor, immigrant neighborhood south of multicultural Kreuzberg. (They will also receive seats in the Pankow district north of Prenzlauer Berg when that local government convenes.).

In Neukölln, about 100 people took part in a peaceful anti-right-wing extremism demonstration.

Protesters were also on hand in Treptow-Köpenick, which sent three neo-Nazis to its council, including Udo Voigt, who runs the NPD party nationally. (Voigt garners media attention for his party with such quotes as “our goal is to liquidate present-day Germany” and “Hitler was a great statesman.”)

The Treptow-Köpenick session was also controversial because its council members affirmed a long-standing practice of not allowing cameras or tape recorders to be used during debates.

In response to questions on this issue, Treptow-Köpenick politician Winfried Blohm (SPD party) said that broadcasting proceedings live could, in his words, allow people the chance to interrupt or attack lawmakers. The public television and radio broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) says it plans to challenge this in court.

Today’s session in Lichtenberg was interrupted after protesters chanted “Nazis get out!” in the chambers.

Rainer Bosse, the superintendent of the Lichtenberg borough government, said of NPD members entering the council, “This is what the voters decided,” and we need to respect their vote.