[Goose]

Yeah, definitely agree that Schroeder basically (apologize for the crudeness, but there is no other way to say it) whored himself out for Russian money. Germany as a whole, and Merkel specifically, pursued a rather misguided policy vis a vis Russia (at least with the benefit of hindsight), and they are paying for it now.  And these are mainstream German parties, so your point is well-taken.

I do think extremist parties seem to be more vulnerable to Russian influence.

BC

The policy Germany pursued in the 90s vis a vis Russia arguably made sense. It was important that Germany successfully re-unite and do so in a way that did not threaten Russia. Germany inherited the forces of the DDR. There was no need to maintain anything like the combined strength of the two countries. Germany also spent a lot of money helping former Warsaw Pact countries rebuild their economies. The problem emerged early on that Germany also intended to benefit by the new arrangement and cash in a "permanent peace dividend". After about 2000 this was a very questionable policy. Merkel continued the "Don't Scare The Bear" policy long after it made no strategic sense. This was very much a Merkel policy and was well understood in defense circles at the time as a bad idea. This wasn't hindsight. The problem was very few cared, either in Washington or especially in Germany. The fiction that Russia was just like any other country was considered essential to German prosperity. As has been recently pointed out in Germany by Germans, Germany made a fortune exporting products made with "reasonably priced" Russian gas and oil.

[Goose]

Yeah, definitely agree that Schroeder basically (apologize for the crudeness, but there is no other way to say it) whored himself out for Russian money. Germany as a whole, and Merkel specifically, pursued a rather misguided policy vis a vis Russia (at least with the benefit of hindsight), and they are paying for it now.  And these are mainstream German parties, so your point is well-taken.

I do think extremist parties seem to be more vulnerable to Russian influence.

BC

The policy Germany pursued in the 90s vis a vis Russia arguably made sense. It was important that Germany successfully re-unite and do so in a way that did not threaten Russia. Germany inherited the forces of the DDR. There was no need to maintain anything like the combined strength of the two countries. Germany also spent a lot of money helping former Warsaw Pact countries rebuild their economies. The problem emerged early on that Germany also intended to benefit by the new arrangement and cash in a "permanent peace dividend". After about 2000 this was a very questionable policy. Merkel continued the "Don't Scare The Bear" policy long after it made no strategic sense. This was very much a Merkel policy and was well understood in defense circles at the time as a bad idea. This wasn't hindsight. The problem was very few cared, either in Washington or especially in Germany. The fiction that Russia was just like any other country was considered essential to German prosperity. As has been recently pointed out in Germany by Germans, Germany made a fortune exporting products made with "reasonably priced" Russian gas and oil.