FT.com / UK - Warning on crisis threat to democracy

FT.com / UK - Warning on crisis threat to democracy: "German voters could turn to extremist parties in this year's election unless there is an independent inquiry into the financial crisis, an ally of Angela Merkel, the chancellor, has warned.

'You should not underestimate the huge feeling of injustice among the people about what is happening, and it will only get worse,' Albert Rupprecht, chairman of the parliamentary committee that oversees the government's bank rescue action, told the Financial Times. 'If we cannot explain why the crisis took place, confidence in the economic system, the market, even democracy could collapse.'

Mr Rupprecht called for an inquiry modelled on the US investigation of the September 11 2001 attacks. 'We do not need a witch hunt or an inquisition tribunal, but we need to identify who or what was responsible for the crisis. We should not leave this to the populists.'"