Eklat in the carnival: Lars Reichow attacks AfD sharply!

Eklat in the carnival: Lars Reichow attacks AfD sharply!

in Rhineland-Palatinate is known to the carnival for its tip satire and sharp political criticism. This was particularly clear during the television meeting "Mainz remains Mainz" in 2023, in which the cabaret artist Lars Reichow attacked the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag and described it as "unpleasant assholes". This remark caused one of the greatest scales in the history of the Rhenish Carnival, which traditionally takes up political issues and critically highlights. The carnival, which has its roots in the 19th century, is often seen as a place for political criticism and reflection on social issues, but nowadays often focuses on colorful and happy celebrations.

The podcast host Finn Holitzka discusses with Lars Reichow and the political scientist Professor Stefan Neuhaus in a new series about the political dimension of the carnival. This podcast series, titled "Under Fools-nothing is as serious as the fun", deals with the strange and controversial aspects of the carnival tradition and illuminates how political engagement in the carnival often disappears in the shadow of the happy celebrations. One of the previously published episodes is about a Koblenz carnival prince that founded a western city for the carnival.

political provocations and social reactions

The program "Mainz remains Mainz, as it sings and laughs" was described as entertaining, but the sharp criticism of the AfD led to a mixed response. Lars Reichow and the view of calling parts of the population that support the AfD as enemies of democracy were criticized by some pages. These statements were interpreted as potential agitation and attacks on a politically committed electorate. In connection with these discussions, the name of Göbbels was also mentioned as a rhetorical comparison example, which led to additional concern.

In addition, there are reports of incidents in which AfD representatives were attacked during information stands. The media report on a particularly worrying incident in which a driver of a small van intentionally did an AfD after making insulting statements. This stirs up fears of social development that is reminiscent of dark times of the 1930s.

The carnival in the context of history

The myth that carnivalists resisted in the Third Reich is presented by historians as wrong. This phase was largely excluded in many chronicles. The discussion about the political position of the carnival and the responsibility of the presenters is becoming increasingly important. The critics demand that manuscripts should be checked for problematic content before the events of adults to avoid further social tensions.

The carnival, as it is celebrated today, is in the area of ​​tension between a happy celebration and serious political criticism. The podcast episodes on this topic are available on rhein-zeitung.de/audio and Spotify and offer a variety of insights into the current discussion.