How the AfD envisions politics working and how to best buy into national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The presence of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in a European Championship stadium triggers parliamentary questions Photo: Revierfoto/imago
The group that would like to be an alternative for this country does not speak German. “Participation of members of the Federal Government in the matches of the European Football Championship in Germany” is a current “Small inquiry” of the AfD to the federal government. It is therefore assumed that ministers or state secretaries have been appointed to Julian Nagelsmann’s European Championship squad.
But you know what is meant, you could exclaim. Yes, of course, the AfD always knows that, or at least you suspect it. What they want in this specific case is to stir up resentment about the fact that parts of the federal cabinet watched European Championship games in June and July, and were perhaps even “gastronomically provided during the game” (AfD request). To make this rather banal event sound as outrageous as possible, the people do not write about watching a football match, but about “taking part in the games”.
The federal government is obliged to answer such questions. “Due to their duties, members of the federal government, parliamentary state secretaries and state secretaries of the federal ministries maintain contact with a large number of actors,” it says, and in fact the appendix to the answer lists the appointments for discussions that took place during the European Championship games.
It is a long list, but it does not explain anything. For example, Foreign Minister Baerbock and a member of staff were present at the Slovenia-Serbia match (1:1) on 20 June in Munich. It is only this kind of worthless information that the AfD’s questioners have brought to light, prompted by a report by the Bild-Newspaper. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, was given a mini-ball “Adidas Football Love” worth 15 euros, which she “gave away”, according to the Federal Government’s response.
Football tickets and salmon canapés
The question reveals what right-wing extremists think of politics. I admit that I don’t think the AfD people believed that Karl Lauterbach was a goalie for Nagelsmann’s team, even if that’s what came out of the AfD’s attempt to formulate a straight German sentence.
The language impairment, however, is not stupidity, but rather reveals the belief in these circles that politics works in such a way that the staff there shovel everything into their own pockets: football tickets, salmon canapés, business trips and if they wanted, these people would even substitute themselves. Incidentally, the CDU/CSU faction took a similar approach three weeks after the AfD. “Small inquiry”regarding Karl Lauterbach.
Now, it is true that there is a phenomenon of political personnel who would like to score points by means of their footballing, well, skills. Chechnya’s dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, for example, signed stars like Lothar Matthäus and Romario in 2011 to play with them in a packed stadium. Or the dictator’s son Al-Saadi al-Gaddafi from Libya even bought his way into the Italian Serie A to play a quarter of an hour for AC Perugia.
There are cases like that. But is that how politics works? No, it’s just that there are people on the right in the political arena who believe that with these ridiculous self-dramatizations they have understood the law of motion of politics and can use it for themselves and blame others. The annoying thing about it is that they firmly believe in it and keep going. The nice thing about it is that anyone who thinks like that fails. Football teaches us that too.
Table of Contents
Title: Unraveling the AfD’s Vision of Politics: Misconceptions, Missteps, and Football
Meta Description: Explore the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s misconceptions about politics, their missteps, and their fascination with football, including Julian Nagelsmann and the national team.
Keywords: AfD, Alternative for Germany, politics, football, Julian Nagelsmann, national team, right-wing extremism, scandals.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been making headlines for their controversial views and actions, and their latest inquiry into the federal government’s participation in the European Football Championship has raised eyebrows. But what does this inquiry reveal about the AfD’s vision of politics, and how does it relate to their fascination with football and national coach Julian Nagelsmann?
The AfD’s Inquiry: A Misconception of Politics
The AfD’s inquiry into the federal government’s participation in the European Football Championship is a prime example of their misconceptions about politics. By asking about the “participation of members of the Federal Government in the matches of the European Football Championship in Germany,” the AfD is implying that ministers or state secretaries were appointed to Julian Nagelsmann’s European Championship squad <a target="blank” href=”https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/124/2012483.pdf” rel=”noopener”>[1]. However, this is simply a case of watching football matches, not participating in them.
This inquiry reveals the AfD’s belief that politics works in a way where politicians are more interested in personal gains, such as football tickets and salmon canapés, rather than serving the public interest. This misconception is a classic trait of right-wing extremism, where politicians are often viewed as corrupt and self-serving.
The AfD’s Fascination with Football
The AfD’s fascination with football is not new. In 2016, AfD politician Alexander Gauland sparked controversy when he claimed that the German national team ”isn’t German” <a target="blank” href=”https://www.dw.com/en/afd-politician-says-germanys-football-team-isnt-german/a-19305613″ rel=”noopener”>[3]. This statement was widely criticized, but it highlights the AfD’s attempt to politicize sports and create divisions within society.
In 2017, Hertha Berlin, a top German football club, sued the AfD for using a photograph of their top scorer with one of its politicians without permission <a target="blank” href=”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/15/germanys-rightwing-afd-sued-over-tweeted-picture-football-star-hertha-bsc-marvin-plattenhardt” rel=”noopener”>[1]. This incident demonstrates the AfD’s tendency to appropriate football for political gain, even if it means misusing images and exploiting athletes.
Buying into Julian Nagelsmann
So, how can one “buy into” national coach Julian Nagelsmann and the German national team, as the article’s title suggests? The answer lies in understanding that the AfD’s vision of politics is rooted in misconceptions and a lack of understanding of how politics works. By recognizing these misconceptions and rejecting the AfD’s divisive rhetoric, we can promote a more inclusive and transparent political system.
the AfD’s inquiry into the federal government’s participation in the European Football Championship is a reflection of their misconceptions about politics and their fascination with football. By understanding the AfD’s vision of politics, we can work towards a more informed and engaged citizenry, one that rejects right-wing extremism and promotes a more inclusive society.
References:
<a target="blank” href=”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/15/germanys-rightwing-afd-sued-over-tweeted-picture-football-star-hertha-bsc-marvin-plattenhardt”>[1] The Guardian, “Top Berlin football club sues Germany’s rightwing AfD”
<a target="blank” href=”https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/01/world/europe/germany-afd-far-right-scandal.html”>[2] The New York Times, “Scandals and Missteps Slow Momentum of Germany’s Far Right”
<a target="blank” href=”https://www.dw.com/en/afd-politician-says-germanys-football-team-isnt-german/a-19305613″>[3] DW, “AfD politician says Germany’s football team ‘isn’t German'”
AfD Germany
Understanding the AfD’s Vision of Politics: A Critical Analysis
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a right-wing populist party, has been making waves in German politics since its founding in 2013[[[3]]. Initially established as an anti-euro party, the AfD has shifted its focus to immigration and Islam, and is increasingly seen as far-right in tone[[[1]]. A recent parliamentary inquiry by the AfD sheds light on the party’s vision of politics, revealing a disturbing understanding of how politics works.
The Inquiry: A Misconceived Notion of Politics
The AfD’s inquiry, titled “Participation of members of the Federal Government in the matches of the European Football Championship in Germany,” assumes that members of the federal cabinet were appointed to Julian Nagelsmann’s European Championship squad[[[2]]. This notion is not only misplaced but also reveals the party’s fundamental misconception of politics. The AfD’s language, which describes cabinet members “taking part in the games,” is intentionally inflammatory, aiming to stir up resentment among citizens[[[2]].
The Reality Check
In response to the inquiry, the federal government provided a list of appointments for discussions that took place during the European Championship games. The list includes Foreign Minister Baerbock attending a Slovenia-Serbia match and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media receiving a mini-ball as a gift[[[2]]. These facts are mundane and do not imply any wrongdoing or misuse of power.
The AfD’s Vision of Politics: Self-Enrichment and Corruption
The AfD’s inquiry betrays a deeper understanding of politics as a means of personal enrichment and corruption. The party believes that politicians use their positions to accumulate wealth and power, shoveling everything into their own pockets[[[2]]. This worldview is not only simplistic but also misleading. It ignores the complexities of politics and the role of politicians in serving the public interest.
A Comparative Analysis
While there are cases of politicians attempting to score points through their footballing skills, as seen in the examples of Chechnya’s dictator Ramzan Kadyrov and Libya’s Al-Saadi al-Gaddafi, this is not a representative model of politics[[[2]]. Politics involves making informed decisions, engaging in public debate, and serving the needs of citizens – not exploiting power for personal gain.
Conclusion
The AfD’s inquiry is a window into the party’s misguided understanding of politics. By perpetuating a narrative of corruption and self-enrichment, the AfD reinforces a toxic worldview that undermines trust in democratic institutions. It is essential to promote a more nuanced understanding of politics, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and public service. By doing so, we can foster a healthier political landscape and reject the divisive rhetoric of far-right extremist groups like the AfD.
