Anarchists' election video outrages Germans

Just as Germans were starting to feel bored by their election campaign, a little-known anarchist party has outraged television viewers with a no-holds-barred political broadcast featuring bare-breasted women, raucous partying and alcohol-fuelled vandalism.

The German Anarchist Pogo Party (APPD), whose defiant proclamation that "Arbeit ist Scheisse" ("Work is shit") contrasts sharply with Angela Merkel's vows to reduce unemployment and Gerhard Schröder's labour market reform programme, launched its campaign video on Monday for the 18 September election.

Wolfgang Thierse, president of Germany's parliament and SPD member, expressed outrage over the video, claiming it "goes against human dignity and harms the protection of our youth".

A poll released yesterday showed Mr Schröder's Social Democrats clawing back support, rising three points from last week to 34 per cent, while Ms Merkel's Christian Democrats were down one at 42 per cent.