Toddler versions of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP), FP chairman Herbert Kickl and other top politicians from the parliamentary parties sing “the election campaign is a kindergarten” in the new advertising film by the Wels-based furniture retailer XXXLutz, while they spin a wind turbine, drive toy cars, ride on a rocking horse or smear each other with burger sauce. “There’s only arguing” and “riding around on nonsense,” sing the child candidates to the tune of “Bi-Ba-Butzemann.”
The seemingly harmless advertising film provoked outrage in the “Network for Elementary Education” (NEBÖ). A spokeswoman saw it as a “defamation of educational work in kindergartens”. Unfortunately, the election campaign is not a kindergarten, because a respectful tone and emotional regulation prevail there. She demanded XXXLutz to apologize to elementary teachers and suggested to the PR agency further training in elementary education.
Thomas Saliger reacts calmly to the allegations, The furniture retailer’s company spokesman told OÖN: “At no point in the advertising film is elementary education defamed, but it is a fact that children argue and misbehave from time to time.” The latter was deliberately used to humorously point out the lack of manners in domestic politics.
Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
“}”>
Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
According to Saliger, they are not talking down “the institution of kindergarten,” but rather taking the metaphor “it’s like kindergarten” literally. That’s what people like. In addition, the metaphor is not foreign to top-level politics, “as yesterday’s summer discussion with Andreas Babler or a quote from Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler proves.”
Yesterday, Babler spoke of a “complete kindergarten” when it came to the internal party disputes over the calls for Mayor Klaus Luger to resign. Kogler said in the coalition dispute over the approval of the Renaturation Act: “We are not in the Kindergartenwhere you turn away, offended.”
In any case, Saliger will seek contact with the network and “address the criticism”.
