Harald Martenstein defends AfD in Thalia Theater speech, Andreas Püttmann counters
Harald Martenstein, a former DKP member who now identifies as a "Rechter" (right-winger), caused controversy with his speech "Prozess gegen Deutschland" at Hamburg's Thalia Theater. He defends the AfD and explains his shift away from leftist politics in his collection "Wenn das Denken die Richtung ändert." Political scientist Andreas Püttmann, who calls himself a "Neutraler" (neutral), argues in a recent essay that democracy is threatened by the AfD and its acceptance in bourgeois circles. The two engaged in a debate published in Der Freitag.
Key facts
- Harald Martenstein gave a speech titled 'Prozess gegen Deutschland' at Thalia Theater in Hamburg.
- Martenstein was a member of the DKP (German Communist Party) and now considers himself a 'Rechter'.
- He published a collection titled 'Wenn das Denken die Richtung ändert' about his political shift.
- Andreas Püttmann defines himself as a 'Neutraler' and wrote an essay warning about the AfD threat.
- The debate between Martenstein and Püttmann was featured in Der Freitag.
- Martenstein's speech and views have sparked public controversy.
Entities
Artists
- Harald Martenstein
- Andreas Püttmann
Institutions
- Thalia Theater
- Der Freitag
- DKP
Locations
- Hamburg
- Germany