On Friday evening, a surprising Green Party election advertisement caused a stir in Munich. A large portrait of Robert Habeck, the Greens' candidate for chancellor, was projected onto the historic Siegestor. The campaign was only visible for around 60 minutes, but it triggered a nationwide wave of outrage. Why was that? And why could the city now impose fines on those responsible?
Election advertising on a monument - a taboo?
The Victory Gate in Munich is more than just a monument. It commemorates the destruction of the Second World War and symbolizes peace. Right there, in the middle of this historic landmark, a picture of Habeck and his campaign slogan "Bündniskanzer. One man. One word".
For many, it was a line that was crossed. Markus Söder, Bavaria's Minister President, described the action as disrespectful and even "megalomaniacal". Many people on social media found the projection inappropriate, even if others found it creative.
The city of Munich intervenes: Is the action illegal?
It soon emerged that the projection was not authorized. Those responsible were unable to produce a permit, which prompted the police to end the campaign. Election advertising on monuments is generally not permitted, according to the city administration. The Munich District Administration Department (KVR) has already initiated proceedings for a fine.
For the Greens themselves, it was probably a calculated move in election advertising that seemed to polarize. When asked by the media about the incident, the party gave few specific details, but hinted that similar actions were planned in other German cities.
What's behind the excitement?
Of course, an election campaign is a competition of ideas and images. But the projection onto a monument steeped in history arouses many emotions and raises questions. Was it a bold move to attract attention? Or was it a transgression of boundaries that has little in common with the values of respect and decency?
Green Party leader shows understanding
The new Green Party chairman Felix Banaszak was a guest on Markus Lanz's talk show on Wednesday evening. He had come to present and discuss his party's energy policy ideas for the future. After the inappropriate election campaign, the presenter Lanz couldn't help but put the Duisburg politician through the wringer. When asked what he thought of the campaign, Banszak stated that he had known about the campaign and had also helped decide on it, and yet he honestly and insightfully admitted that the campaign had been approved too quickly. He added: "If we had thought about it longer, we would have realized it was a stupid idea."
Immediate consequences of the election campaign
A serious incident occurred the day after the projection. A man attacked and destroyed a Green Party campaign stand in Neuperlach after seeing the election advertisement. Whether and to what extent these acts of violence were directly incited by the projection remains unclear.
Provocation yes, but with limits
What does Recht 24/7 think of this election advertising? Well, we think that election campaigns need ideas that stand out - but should always be respectful of history and the public. Using a monument as a canvas for election advertising is a fine line. The legal side is clear: the campaign was illegal. But the question remains: Did the advertising overstep the mark, or was it just a clever attempt to attract attention during the election campaign? One thing is clear: for the Greens, this campaign is likely to have caused more unrest than approval. And that is rarely a good sign.
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