Left-Extremist Endeavours

place under the motto "We love Germany!", was attended by only
2,000 persons (1998: 3,000).
Participation in elections With a high investment of funds, but with varying success, the
DVU ran in the elections to the Bremer Bürgerschaft [Bremen citystate
parliament] and in the Landtag elections in Brandenburg and
Thuringia. In these elections, the Party did not nominate any direct
candidates, and submitted only one Land list of candidates.
In mid-November 1998, the National Chairman of the party "The
Republicans" (REP), Dr. Rolf SCHLIERER, and Mr. FREY had
agreed to avoid "unnecessary competition" in future elections to
the extent possible. Thus, the DVU did not run in the Landtag
elections in Hesse and in the elections to the Berlin Chamber of
Deputies, while the REP did not put up candidates for the elections
to the Bremen Bürgerschaft and for the Landtag elections in
Brandenburg.
Bremen In the elections to the Bremen Bürgerschaft on 6 June, the DVU
won 3 % (1995: 2.5 %) of the votes within that Land. On account
of its election results in Bremerhaven (6 %), the DVU obtained a
seat in the Bürgerschaft 39) . The Party used the election
campaign strategy which it had applied successfully already in
1998: with a campaign budget of more than one million
deutschmark, use was made, in particular, of large-scale advertising
by means of placards and direct mailing, especially to
young voters. In addition to the slogan "vote in protest", the
Party’s aggressive slogans focussed on unemployment, limited
social security benefits, crime, and the absolute priority of German
interests in all respects.
Brandenburg In the Landtag elections in Brandenburg on 5 September, the
DVU won 5.3 % of the votes (1994: no candidature), and took
five seats in the Potsdam Landtag 40) . Together with Saxony-Anhalt
and Bremen, this makes three Land Parliaments in which the
DVU is represented. The strategy of Land-wide advertising by
means of placards and direct mailing to all households was continued
by the Party also in Brandenburg where it spent nearly
three million deutschmark for this purpose. In order to counter
the reproach of being a ’phantom party’, the DVU for the first time
focused its campaign on its two front runners by showing their
photos on placards, fliers and election advertising spots. In
addition, a number of campaign rallies were held, with a participation
up to 300.
Thuringia The election campaign strategy which had proved successful in
Brandenburg was adopted by the DVU also in the Landtag elections
in Thuringia on 12 September. After its entry into the Brandenburg
Landtag, it once more invested funds in the election
campaign - to the amount of more than two million deutschmark.
However, it won only 3.1 % of the votes (1994: no candidature).
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