Verdi trade union sees German culture threatened by AfD

The trade union Verdi fears for German culture in light of the appearance of AfD politicians. "We are alarmed by the growing number of attacks by anti-democratic forces in our republic on the freedom of art," said an appeal published on Sunday by the Verdi executive board for the Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt region.

An appeal to defend culture

With reference to the persecution of artists and their work under National Socialism, it is recalled that exchange with the cultures of neighboring countries has "always played a major role" in Germany's history and that works by all major artists are internationally influenced. "German culture is part of the heritage of the global community."

In its appeal to "all democrats" to defend culture, the committee also criticized AfD vocabulary such as "German dominant culture" or "desecration of the cultural sector" in the state and federal parliaments. "The womb from which this crawled is still fertile!", the board quoted the admonition in Bertolt Brecht's play "The Stopping Ascent of Arturo Ui". "We show solidarity with the network "The Many" and stand up for fair discussions and tolerance in dealing with thinking people!"