The truth: The Amthor APO

“Welcome to the biggest in the extra-parliamentary opposition of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.” The banner above the entrance gate of the Bad Sülze multi-purpose hall leaves no doubt. The mood is exuberant. The approximately 150 Christian Democrats present seem almost liberated - and they are, as one of them confirms. Hubert Martens, a member of the local volunteer fire department, explains: "It's like a drill. Firefighting exercises are much more fun than real fires."

Today people are practicing voting in Bad Sülze. At the same time as the actual election of the head of government in the Schwerin state parliament, which is broadcast on a large screen in the multi-purpose hall, the CDU is also voting in Bad Sülze. Just for yourself.

The acting CDU state chairman Philipp Amthor came up with the idea. He seems particularly out of sorts today as he greets us with a big grin. What is striking is the huge APO sticker on his lapel, which, upon closer inspection, stands for “new beginnings, politics, openness”.

"The most important thing for the CDU is that it doesn't forget how to work in parliament even outside of parliament. That's why we're voting today!" Amthor explains eagerly. Firefighter Martens raises his thumb in the background. With his other hand he pours pilsner down his throat.

Three confessionals act as voting booths. The local priest found old copies in his church basement. In keeping with the style, real urns serve as ballot paper containers. “We were able to make good use of the priest’s contacts with a local undertaker,” says the always alert Amthor, muttering something about “real local roots” as the musical supporting program starts. A brass combo called the Sax Pistols was founded from the ranks of the Bad Sülzener Junge Union.

After the song “Anarchy in MV”, which was specially rehearsed for the event, the moment comes: Similar to the start of the voting process in Schwerin, the voting process will also open to the minute in Bad Sülze. None other than Angela Merkel is taking over the election management. She calls the delegates to the polls in alphabetical order. The fact that some election workers recruited from the Western Pomeranian Senior Citizens' Union are waiting with FFP-2 masks has to do with the extremely short delivery time for urns.

“There's still Bad Sülzen ancestral dust in it,” fireman Martens whispers to us, before Philipp Amthor draws our attention to an unusual point in the supporting program that is intended to bridge the time until the results are announced.

The stage is now cleared for a political open mic. Every member can freely share their visions for the renewal of the CDU there. “We want to benefit from the wonderful swarm intelligence of our members here. So that the CDU gets going again,” calls Amthor into the hall. A poll worker coughs. “We can do it!” shouts Hubert Martens.

A seasoned Christian Democrat parks his walker in front of the stage and takes the floor. “We have to reflect much more on our roots,” suggests the white-haired man, holding up a copy of the CDU’s Ahlen program from 1947. “The capitalist economic system has not done justice to the state and social interests of the German people,” he quotes with a trembling voice. A fundamental reorganization is needed. That's why "overcoming capitalism, socializing the key industries and unbundling large corporations is absolutely necessary," the senior continues from the CDU's early work, triggering a spontaneous pep talk by the Sax Pistols.

Angela Merkel smiles; She now joins the others on stage, because now it is available - the election results from: Bad Sülze. 98 percent for Manuela Schwesig! Merkel continues to smile pensively. “It’s just like before!” says the rollator man with the Ahlen program, visibly excited. And Hubert Martens chants: “That was just an exercise – free beer for everyone!”