Klingbeil: The new carnival order - humor wins in the election campaign!

Klingbeil: The new carnival order - humor wins in the election campaign!

On February 8, 2025, Lars Klingbeil, the chairman of the SPD, will be awarded the Aachen Carnival Order against the animal seriousness. This award takes place in direct connection with the Bundestag election, which takes place just under two weeks later. Klingbeil is honored as a 75th knight for "humor and humanity in office". The Aachen Carnival Association (AKV) particularly emphasizes its political style.

The ceremony is accompanied by around a thousand guests, and the laudation holds Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein (CDU). In a connection with the upcoming election campaign, the ARD program directorate has decided that politicians who apply for an election must not appear in entertainment programs in the six weeks before the election. Therefore, the event is not broadcast in the first, but the WDR shows the festival session on February 11th in the third program.

political importance and tradition of the carnival

The Aachen Carnival is characterized by political speeches that represent all democratic parties. Among the promised guests are prominent politicians such as Marie-Egnes Strack-Zimmermann from the FDP, Gregor Gysi from the left and Mona Neubaur from the Greens. Appearance from well -known comedians and the Cologne band Höhner are also planned. Political speeches in the context of the carnival are part of a tradition that makes it possible to humorously take up current social issues.

Klingbeil first appeared in Aachen in 2023 and delighted the audience with his appearance. He held his first carnival speech two years ago on the occasion of the order ceremony to Annalena Baerbock. There he caused a lot of applause with a spontaneous ukulelen performance. His ability to interpret politics as a service to people was particularly recognized. As part of his appearances, he improvised melodies for other politicians, including Olaf Scholz and Wolfgang Kubicki.

carnival as part of German culture

carnival, also known as the "fifth season", is a significant cultural event in Germany. The roots of this tradition are diverse and go deep into Christian and pagan history. The carnival often serves as the last celebration before 40-day Lent. In 2014, UNESCO added the Rhenish Carnival and the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht to the list of intangible cultural heritage.

The variety of rituals that are practiced in various regions of Germany makes the carnival firm a colorful and lively. Road parades, colorful costumes and music shape the festivities. The political dimension of the carnival is shown in handmade speeches, which enable them to humorously question social orders and to take up critical issues. This tradition is particularly important in times of political tensions because it offers the population a valve for its expression.

The official end of the carnival takes place on Ash Wednesday, while the highlight is celebrated in the days around Weiberfastnacht and Rose Monday. This year, Bayern ÖDP in Passau with Agnes Becker and Tobias Ruff will be represented on February 14th - the political Ash Wednesday.

So Lars Klingbeil's honor will not only honor his personal career as part of the Aachen Carnival, but also set a sign of the connection between politics and culture.