Schulze: Hallervorden's appearance is a sign of free speech

Saxony-Anhalt's Minister-President Sven Schulze has defended the participation of actor Dieter Hallervorden in a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) election campaign event, emphasizing its importance for freedom of speech. Schulze stated that if he cannot share a stage with Hallervorden, it raises questions about where such limitations might end.

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Dieter Hallervorden is someone who is popular throughout Germany. If I can no longer stand on a stage with Hallervorden, where will it end at some point?

"Let us return to a point where we are allowed to have different opinions, even in harsh debate, but still appreciate each other," Schulze told "Bild." The "Culture Needs Freedom" discussion series, featuring Hallervorden and Schulze with a moderator, has taken place four times since late July. The 90-year-old satirist and actor has used these appearances to sharply criticize the course of the CDU and Social Democratic Party in the federal government.

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Let us return to a point where we are allowed to have different opinions, even in harsh debate, but still appreciate each other.

Hallervorden also referenced Israel's policies, a topic he has previously criticized. A background video during one of his musical performances briefly showed a demonstration with the slogan "Stop the Genocide in Gaza." In response, CDU General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann told "Bild," "For the CDU in Germany, it is very clear: there is no genocide in Gaza, we stand by Israel and Ukraine in the fight against terror and aggression."

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For the CDU in Germany, it is very clear: there is no genocide in Gaza, we stand by Israel and Ukraine in the fight against terror and aggression.

Schulze further argued that he does not want to leave it to the AfD to claim they are the only ones who can express their opinions. "This is total nonsense," he said. "Here we show how it works, that I stand on stage with someone who doesn't just say what I want to hear. And that the freedom of speech we fought for is also permitted." Hallervorden's motivation for participating in the campaign is to prevent an AfD government after the state election on September 6.

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I want to show that it is possible to stand on stage with someone who doesn't just say what I want to hear. And that the freedom of speech we fought for is also permitted.