Swedish neo-Nazi makes Berlin new base

German intelligence agents view Patrik Brinkmann as a leading figure among right-wing extremists around the world. He founded the Continent Europe Foundation in 2004 in Sweden.

“The aim of the Continent Europe Foundation leader Patrik Brinkmann is to move to Berlin by 2010 at the latest and create a Europe-wide Internationale of nationalists in cooperation with national organisations from all European people,” the group said in a statement.

His foundation now functions as a hub for extremists from around Europe, with two functionaries from Germany’s neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) on its advisory board. It also has ties to the extremist German Peoples Union (DVU). Based in the Swedish city of Jnkping, the foundation describes itself as seeking to establish a “greater European civilization” for a “new common identity.”

Because he was ill, Brinkmann’s press spokesperson spoke Thursday on his behalf at a DVU party convention at the Brandenburg state parliament building. The two groups met to introduce their joint proposal: “For a Democratic Brandenburg and a Europe of Fatherlands.”

What could possibly go wrong?