New right-wing political party formed in Hamburg 02/05/2006 00:00

2 May 2006

HAMBURG - A former minister in the city-state of Hamburg launched Monday a new political party, Homeland Hamburg, which he said would seek votes to the right of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Roger Kusch was sacked as justice senator in the city-state after allegations that he had not revealed all about leaks to the media.

Kusch, 51, said key policies would be the abolition of reduced penalties for young offenders and the legalization of euthanasia. The maverick politician, who is a lawyer by training, resigned from the CDU after his dismissal.

Hamburg was the home of a right-of-centre party named led by Ronald Schill, a former judge with no political experience. Campaigning for law and order, the Schill Party won 19 per cent of votes at its first election and entered a coalition with the CDU but later collapsed.

Kusch forecast he would harvest more than 25 per cent of votes in the city-state where the CDU currently has a majority.

DPA

Subject: German news