THE GERMAN ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1932, Page 6

THE GERMAN ELECTION.

The result of the German election is just what was anticipated. The Government is in a hopeless minority, judged by British electoral standards, but it is in power and has announced its intention of remaining in office until dismissed by the President. The Nazis, the Fascists of Germany, have still the largest number of seats in the Reichstag, a number which is nearly equal to that obtained by the next two entrants in the electoral “race,” the Socialists and Communists combined. In some districts the Government has made a little headway at the expense of the Nazis, but, speaking generally, there is little real change in the calibre of the representative Chamber. The result of the election may hasten the changes in the Constitution of the German Republic to which the Chancellor, Herr von Papen, has pledged himself. The Constitution framed in 1919 has stood the stress of the formative years of republican rule, but its defects have been admitted by German politicians who have no desire to return to any Monarchical system. The electoral system, which includes proportional representation, has maintained the dominant position of Prussia, and the enforcement of economic unity throughout the Republic has pressed harshly upon some of the German States which complain that it has transferred commerce to Prussia that should have remained with the Southern States. Herr von Papen has promised that before the constitutional changes are decided upon the various States "will be consulted, and if the amendments are accepted by the States politics in Germany will be less liable to instability or the arbitrary overruling of Parliaments. Internationally the latest election does not promise any serious alteration in Germany’s attitude to disarmament and other problems. It is, however, possible that President Hindenburg will see in Sunday’s voting an expression of public opinion which cannot be ignored, and changes in the Govern-, ment may be nearer than the Chancellor’s defiant attitude would seem to indicate.