Day of the locusts for German investor critic

BERLIN (Reuters) - Back in 2005, German politician Franz Muentefering likened unscrupulous financial investors to locusts that chewed up firms and moved on. Now he is eating the winged insects.

Muentefering, departing chairman of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), devoured a helping of grilled locusts with a selection of dips during a talk with schoolchildren in Freiburg, the Rotteck-Gymnasium school said on Friday.

The school surprised the 69-year-old with a platter of the delicacies from an Asian shop during a seminar on ways to tackle the financial crisis.

"He tucked in without any hesitation," said Martin Walter, a teacher who helped organise Wednesday's event.

Muentefering asked two pupils seated alongside him at the table whether he had to pick the insects up.

"I don't want to eat the eyes," he said, pulling a few parts off a locust and then popping it in his mouth.

"If you could solve the problem with the locusts like that, I'd sign right up for it," he said after chewing thoughtfully. "They're really not that bad. Please, help yourselves -- the locusts must go," Muentefering said to laughter.

His original locust comments provoked a vigorous debate in Germany on the limits of modern capitalism, drawing fire from executives and support from organised labour.

For a video link to the locust meal, please click on: