Liberal Muppet Show: FDP Heavyweights Provide Comedy Act - German politicians turn Epiphany event into a Muppet Show-style spectacle with sharp left-wing critiques
A traditional political event in Stuttgart took an unusual turn when two senior politicians disrupted proceedings with heckling and controversial remarks. Wolfgang Kubicki and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the FDP turned the Epiphany gathering into a spectacle, drawing comparisons to The Muppet Show while making provocative statements about left-wing extremism and foreign threats.
The incident unfolded at Stuttgart’s opera house during the city’s annual Epiphany reception. Kubicki and Strack-Zimmermann positioned themselves in an opera box, mimicking the heckling duo Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show. Strack-Zimmermann quipped that she was ‘not Miss Piggy’ but suggested Kubicki might be ‘Kermit’, adding a theatrical twist to the evening.
Kubicki’s remarks took a sharper turn as he addressed left-wing extremism. He dismissed certain left-wing crimes as serving a ‘greater good’ and warned that a far-left terrorist group could cripple a major city. His criticism extended to Jan van Aken, co-leader of the Left Party, who had previously joked about ‘shooting the rich’ and ‘expropriating billionaires’. The FDP politician also referenced recent threats from Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, Vice Chair of Russia’s National Security Council, had speculated about kidnapping German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—comparing it to the US capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Kubicki responded with dark humour, suggesting Medvedev should target van Aken instead of Merz if he wanted to abduct someone from Germany.
The episode has left Stuttgart’s political circles talking, not just for its comedic disruption but for the serious undertones. Kubicki’s comments on extremism and foreign interference have drawn attention, while the theatrical heckling has added an unexpected layer to a usually formal event. The incident now stands as a rare moment where satire and security concerns collided in public discourse.
