Examination of the AfD election posters: Hermannsdenkmal in the focus of criticism!

Examination of the AfD election posters: Hermannsdenkmal in the focus of criticism!

In Cologne, controversial election advertising by the AfD is causing a lot of interest and legal scrutiny. The Lippe regional association has taken it upon itself to review the use of the Hermann monument in the posters. The posters show the monument with the striking slogan “I would vote for AfD”. As Radiolippe reports, legal clarification is currently being made as to whether publication of the posters is permitted or not. This is particularly explosive since the AfD has already caused a stir with similar recordings in Mainz in the past.

However, the legal framework offers a certain freedom: In Germany, images of public buildings, such as the Hermannsdenkmal, can be photographed and used as long as the photos were taken from a public place. This happens within the framework of “freedom of panorama”. The Lippe regional association emphasizes its neutrality and does not want to be one-sidedly taken over, while it emphasizes tolerance, diversity and cultural openness.

Election campaign and tax money

As ZDF reported, the Bundestag's Council of Elders is examining the legality of the AfD's poster campaign, which has placed its election advertising with hundreds of large posters nationwide in recent weeks. It becomes clear that these posters were not financed from the party's coffers, but rather from taxpayers' money from the Bundestag faction. According to estimates, the costs amount to around 300,000 euros, and an internal email shows that the poster campaign was planned for October 2024.

In total, over 650 updated posters were identified, which were financed by parliamentary group funds. Critics, including the Federal Audit Office, criticize the use of taxpayers' money for election advertising. Most recently, a protest against a poster in Brandoberndorf on January 11, 2025 made headlines and shows that the dispute over the poster campaigns is boiling over not only in the political sphere, but also among the population.

New rules for political advertising

In the context of election advertising, the new EU regulations adopted in February 2024 are also important (EU Parliament). These rules aim to strengthen the integrity of election campaigns and combat disinformation and foreign interference. Among other things, political advertisements must be clearly labeled so that voters can understand who is behind the campaigns.

Furthermore, targeting voters is only permitted with their consent to the collection of personal data. This represents an important step to better protect citizens and promote informed voting decisions. Ultimately, it will be exciting to see how both the legal reviews of the controversial posters and the new EU regulations will influence the political landscape in Germany.