Opinion
A carnival speech by the FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann upsets the CDU. Because their party leader was targeted by the defense politician. The CDU should take it with humor.
The otherwise so officially dapper Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann as the Princess of Darkness – and instead of demands for tanks, a few jabs at the political opponent.
Your appearance at “Order against animal seriousness” in Aachen brought the FDP defense politician a lot of recognition and admiration.
Strack-Zimmermann described the CDU leader Friedrich Merz – without explicitly naming him, mind you – as “Mid-sized aircraft”the “twice none have” wanted.
Vampire Strack Zimmermann rhymed “If a Nazi prince gets too wild, then the flying dwarf suddenly becomes mild” and “If a boy’s name is Ali and not Sascha, he insults him as an elementary school pasha”. She accused Merz, who was sitting in the audience, of not taking the Reich citizen scene seriously and addressed the debate about riots on New Year’s Eve.
CDU criticizes speech by Strack-Zimmermann
The video of her speech spread on Twitter, many could laugh about it.
But not all. You were with the CDU “not amused”.
CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja demanded an apology from Strack-Zimmermann. “That was another fall short of decent manners and decent language.” Don’t behave like that “not even in carnival”. CDU politician Julia Klöckner called the speech “not sovereign” and “personally defamatory”.
“Dear CDU, do you understand fun?”one would like to ask directly.
Carnival is known for making snide remarks about politics. That’s a good thing and a sign of a vibrant democracy.
Politicians are not exempt from lashing out at their colleagues. That’s what makes politics more interesting and not as bone dry as many think.
One may find the speech unfunny and feel stepped on one’s tie. One may even consider the words defamatory or low-level. But with an apology, the CDU comes across as an offended liverwurst that goes to the basement to laugh. The party is doing itself a disservice.
It’s the carnival – and not the Bundestag
Asking for forgiveness for a carnival speech just seems mimosa-like. Because the scenery was not the lectern of the Bundestag – but the carnival, which make up such pointed speeches.
And: If the CDU had demanded an apology from its party leader, would he have made a similar statement about Strack-Zimmermann? Or about Annalena Baerbock? About Olaf Scholz? Hardly likely.
The CDU should take it a little easier when there are tips against their top politicians. It would have been better to answer with a wink and self-deprecation.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
