"Disrupted Interview of Alice Weidel: Protests Precipitate Chaos at AfD Event"
In the heart of Berlin, the Centre for Political Beauty (ZPS), an artist collective known for its provocative and interventionist art actions, caused a stir during a recent interview with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
On July 22, as Weidel was being interviewed by Markus Preiß from ARD, a bus with speakers drove by, blasting a Christmas carol with a surprising twist. The repeated words were meant to criticise the AfD party, with the phrase "Scheisse AfD" echoing through the streets.
The protest, organised by the activist group ZPS, was a piece of high political theatre that caused clear distress to Weidel. The disruption of the interview was a bold move by the collective, who have a history of disruptive actions in Berlin dating back to 2015.
In the past, ZPS has brought live tigers to the city, conducted fake aerial targeting of the AfD, erected a mini-Holocaust memorial outside far-right leader Björn Höcke's home, and put up a giant poster showing Friedrich Merz and Alice Weidel kissing.
The Berlin police have initiated proceedings for disruption against ZPS, as they did not register the protest in advance. Despite this, German broadcaster ARD intends to continue conducting interviews outside, directly in front of the Bundestag.
Omas Gegen Rechts, a group opposed to the right, also participated in the protest, holding placards in the background of the broadcast. Weidel has since taken to social media, describing the Centre for Political Beauty as a "tax-funded NGO."
This latest action by the Centre for Political Beauty once again highlights their commitment to confronting uncomfortable truths and provoking public dialogue about memory, responsibility, and justice, as part of their ongoing mission to challenge contemporary society’s engagement with Germany’s difficult past.
The Centre for Political Beauty (ZPS) continued their history of controversial actions, disrupting a political interview in Berlin, blaring a Christmas carol with a derogatory message about the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This bold move, part of ZPS's ongoing mission to spark public dialogue about memory, responsibility, and justice, has led to a tense relationship with the AfD party and the authorities, as they face proceedings for unregistered protests.
In the ongoing war-and-conflicts of politics and general-news, ZPS's artistic interventions serve as a potent reminder of Germany's difficult past, challenging contemporary society to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in open dialogue about critical issues.
