The Berlin International Film Festival has not yet begun, and a scandal has already erupted in Germany due to the fact that the festival’s management sent an invitation to its grand opening on February 15 to two politicians from the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfN).
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According to Deutsche Welle, sharp public criticism of the Berlinale organizers and demands to withdraw the invitation to AdN members forced the festival management to publicly give explanations.
On February 5, German news agencies published a statement from festival director Mariette Rissenbeek. She reported that the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture, the Berlin Senate and German deputies were receiving an invitation to the opening of the film festival based on quotas.
The tickets are distributed to democratically elected members of all parties in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The Alternative for Germany party is represented in both German legislatures, so ADN politicians sit on culture committees and other parliamentary commissions.
This fact “must be accepted,” notes the Berlinale management.
At the same time, the statement emphasizes that members of the AfN party “represent anti-democratic positions” that are contrary to the values of the Berlinale and the festival staff.
We oppose all forms of marginalization and discrimination and consistently defend the values of the open world of liberal democracy, the document notes. “People, particularly elected representatives, who act contrary to these fundamental values are not welcome at the Berlinale.
Film stars were outraged by the position of the Berlinale management. An open letter (now deleted) appeared on the Internet, signed by more than 200 German and foreign filmmakers and actors. They demand that the invitation to ADN members be revoked. Dozens of filmmakers also expressed outrage on their social media pages.
German film star Desiree Nosbusch wrote on Instagram that she was “tongued” when she learned of the news. Actress Jennis Nivener, who usually refrains from making statements on political issues, called on the Berlinale management to “take action” to prevent AfN politicians from appearing at the opening of the festival.
This year, Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko joined the jury of the Berlinale Film Festival. Along with film festivals in Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world’s largest film festivals. This year it will last from February 15 to 25. 20 films will take part in the competition program.
What about AdN
In early February, the ratings of the German far right fell to their lowest level in six months. Alternative for Germany lost 2-3% and has 20% of the votes. His fame is falling amid mass demonstrations against right-wing radicalism.
The reason for the protests was the participation of AfN representatives in a meeting of right-wing extremists near Potsdam, which was reported by Correctiv in early January. Participants discussed forcing millions of foreigners and German citizens with migrant backgrounds to leave the country.
The Germans were shocked, because the meeting took place in the location of the so-called Wannsee Conference of 1942, at which the Nazis discussed plans for the final extermination of the Jews. Rallies against right-wing extremism and the AfN have taken place and continue across Germany. Debates have also flared up about the ban on the Alternative for Germany; it has been accused of extremism at the federal level.
However, the decline in the AdN’s rating did not increase the popularity of the ruling “traffic light” coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the VDP. In total they have only 32% of the votes. Only the opposition with the CDU has a strong position – more than 30%, and in the event of political cataclysms, the CDU could form a coalition with the Social Democrats or the Greens.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.