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CULTURE

Berlinale: Germany’s far-right AfD uninvited from film festival opening

The revelation that AfD politicians had been invited to Berlinale’s opening sparked international criticism. Now the film festival leadership has disinvited the party representatives.

Published: 9 February 2024 10:36 CET
Updated: 9 February 2024 14:04 CET
Berlinale management on stage
Berlinale Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian and Executive Director Mariette Rissenbeek ahead of the 74th International Berlinale film festival. Photo: MICHELE TANTUSSI / AFP

According to Berlinale, five politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are no longer invited to the event’s opening gala on February 15th.

Defending its position, Berlinale put out a statement saying the AfD and many of its members have views that deeply contradict the basic values of democracy. 

“We have therefore disinvited all previously invited AfD politicians in writing today and informed them that they are not welcome at the Berlinale,” said the management duo Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian in a statement.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, AfD parliamentary group leader Kristin Brinker slammed the decision as a “cultural-political warning”. 

“With its decision, the Berlinale is bowing to the public pressure built up by cultural-political activists over the past few days,” she said, adding that the decision was not just an exclusion of AfD politicians but also an exclusion of their supporters. 

“They are excluding people who are at odds with the prevailing conditions and are turning to us, the AfD, in the hope of revitalising democracy,” Brinker said. 

The inclusion of AfD members was less controversial in previous years, but this year’s Berlinale comes after massive protests against the AfD and right-wing extremism swept Germany.

An estimated 150,000 protestors rallied against the AfD in Berlin on February 3rd as part of series of demonstrations that were sparked by a “Correctiv” investigation which exposed a plan discussed by AfD members to deport immigrants from Germany.

READ ALSO: Could the far-right AfD ever take power in Germany?

Why were alt-right leaders invited to the international film festival?

Normally Berlinale delivers a quota of invitations to both the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Berlin Senate, which are then distributed to democratically elected members of all parties in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

It was through this process that AfD members received their invites.

Berlinale has emphasised that the discussion on how to deal with AfD politicians affects many German organisations and festivals. 

“This debate must be conducted by society as a whole and together with all democratic parties,” said a statement by Berlinale.

READ ALSO: Berlinale – Diversity and Nazi past in spotlight at 70th Berlin film festival

According to Minister of State for Culture, Claudia Roth, this debate could also happen at a Berlinale opening.

A representative for Roth told DPA: “It is up to the Berlinale management to make the final decision on who they invite to the opening and who they don’t, and we respect this decision.”

But she added: “It is understandable that filmmakers from Germany, Europe and the world are campaigning for racists and enemies of democracy to have no place at the Berlinale.”

AfD Parliamentary group leader, Kristin Brinker, will comment on the disinvitation in the Bundesrat on Friday.

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POLITICS

Why a row has broken out in Germany over pension reforms

Government parties in Germany are in a bitter row over the future of pensions and retirement in Germany. Here's a quick overview of what you need to know.

Published: 13 May 2024 11:49 CEST
Why a row has broken out in Germany over pension reforms

Germany’s coalition government is having a rough time of it. 

Since the three parties – the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) – entered a coalition after the federal election in 2021, they have seen a significant dip in popularity according to polls. 

Despite some high profile policy achievements, such as citizenship and immigration reforms as well as the partial legalisation of cannabis, the coalition’s reputation has been marred by infighting. 

And the latest sticking point is pension policy. 

READ ALSO: Is it worthwhile to set up a private pension plan in Germany?

What’s the issue with pensions?

Last week, a high profile and long-awaited approval by the cabinet on a package shaking up pensions in Germany – called Rentenpaket II – was postponed. 

According to reports, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had the topic removed from the agenda – effectively blocking it from moving forward.

That is despite Lindner agreeing on the pension reform, along with Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), months ago.

The package, which Heil and Lindner presented in March, is intended to guarantee a pension level of 48 percent for the future — meaning that pensions would equate to 48 percent of your average salary over the course of your working time.

The government also plans to invest billions in the capital market and pay annual subsidies to the pension insurance from the interest earned starting in the mid-2030s. It means that in addition to the contributions and subsidies from the federal budget, the pension insurance scheme would receive a third source of funding.

READ ALSO: How Germany plans to stabilise pension contributions

But the final go ahead for the package has been stalled due to various disputes on social security and pensions — including over the budgeting for it. 

FDP calls for ‘fair’ budget policy 

The situation has got further complicated — and messy — after the FDP spoke out once again in favour of restricting early retirement at 63 in Germany, as part of a new policy paper urging a ‘budget turnaround’.

In the five-point paper on the welfare state, the Finance Minister’s party warns of the consequences of the current pension package, saying it will “overburden” budgets with too much spending on social welfare. 

The FDP's Christian Lindner has been rocking the coalition boat this week.

The FDP’s Christian Lindner. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jessica Lichetzki

The FDP says it wants a “budget policy that is fair to all generations”. They want to see reforms to the social system as well as restricting access to early pensions for those who qualify. 

The latest policy paper, which the FDP plans to adopt at an executive meeting on Monday, echoes what the party has said previously in a 12-point plan aiming to ‘turn the economy around’ where it outlined how long-term unemployment benefit sanctions should be tougher. 

READ ALSO: Why a push for tougher benefit sanctions in Germany is sparking a dispute

What’s the reaction?

The FDP’s plans have been met with criticism from its coalition partners, the SPD and the Greens.

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert rejected the proposals, including to restrict retirement at 63. “We can’t do that,” Kühnert told German broadcasters on Monday. 

He firmly believes that the cabinet will approve the coalition’s ‘pension package II’ in May as well as the 2025 budget in July.

“But everyone should now focus on the matter and publish fewer point papers,” he added, in view of the FDP’s recent pushes to assert its policies. 

However, it is unclear whether the FDP will agree to the pension package in its current form given the recent uproar. The decision to release these policy papers may also be a tactic to try and pull in potential voters ahead of the nationwide election in Germany in autumn 2025. 

Other politicians have hit out at the FDP. 

SPD party leader Saskia Esken told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that it wasn’t helpful if negotiations on the 2025 budget were accompanied by party-affiliated position papers every week.

Esken also said social security in Germany is a “non-negotiable” for the party.

READ ALSO: How does Germany’s retirement age compare to the rest of Europe’s?

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