Hape Kerkeling and the AfD ban: On the state of the nation in three sentences

A comedian who means business. Who can summarize what it's about in three sentences. In all clarity. This is Hape Kerkeling, who certainly gave the speech of the week on Wednesday evening. A speech that should be played on a continuous loop on German Unity Day.

Because Kerkeling's credo is: First: The Basic Law is anti-fascist. Secondly: Anyone who trivializes and refutes this country's criminal past forfeits any political right to exist in our democracy. And thirdly: Anyone who does not treat Germany's history responsibly must not take responsibility for its future.

He presented his rule of three to the Justice Committee of the Thuringian state parliament at the hearing about the initiation of party ban proceedings against the AfD, as it was formally called. He was invited not as a comedian, nor as a legal expert, but as a descendant of a Nazi victim. His grandfather was imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp for three years. On the anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp in April, Kerkeling commemorated this with an impressive speech.

It was precisely from this personal story that he derived his view of today's Germany. And a ban on the AfD, which he believes is unavoidable. Because a party that relies on fear, lies and hatred, like the Nazis did 100 years ago, has no place in our country with its horrific history.

The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.

Kerkeling said he would like to see a day when no one has to be afraid just because they live, look different or believe differently. And added unmistakably: “We are not building this day with silence, we are building it with a signature” – under the application for the AfD ban procedure.

Because the promise of our state is: We will not tolerate fascism in Germany. And anyone who stays silent when democracy is attacked has already chosen a side. Even if he perhaps thinks he has remained neutral. Because the defense of the Basic Law is not a question of left or right.

Every single sentence of his five-minute statement was perfect. And at the latest when you listen to Kerkeling not simply repeating the first article, the most important sentence of the Basic Law, but through the emphasized breakdown of the syllables - human dignity is in - an - tangible! – emphasizes the entire humanistic power or, as Kerkeling emphasized later in the debate, the tenderness of the word “untouchable”, then one is not only happy about his clear language, but immediately asks oneself: Wouldn’t this power of language combined with attitude make him ideal for an office in the state of Germany?

A new Federal President will be elected at the beginning of 2027. Nothing would be stronger and more contemporary for the office than a person like Hape Kerkling. In fact, there has been an initiative on WeAct for months that calls on the parliamentary group leaders of the democratic parties in the Bundestag to name Kerkeling as a candidate. Almost 150,000 people have now signed the call. Rightly so, because with his attitude and his story he would be the person who could embody the essential resistance against the burgeoning fascism.

Of course, Kerkeling will not be elected Federal President. Not because he's unsuitable as a comedian. Not because, despite his emphasized non-partisanship, he can be read as a little too left-wing for a CDU/CSU dominating the Federal Assembly. But because his clear anti-fascism frightens the Union in particular, which goes too far with so much firewalling. It's fatal.

A comedian who is serious would be good for the country. Instead, it will probably be another one of those who are serious but mostly just seem funny.