Enlarge image
Actor Richy Müller in his clip for the action #allesdichtmachen
Photo: #allesdichtmachen / picture alliance / dpa
The federal government is holding back with evaluations of the much discussed videos of prominent actors and actresses about the corona policy. »The federal government has taken note of this action and our position is well known: We are working to ensure that Germany can overcome the pandemic quickly. Our decisions are based on that, ”said the deputy government spokeswoman Martina Fietz. Of course, freedom of expression also applies in this case.
For Tuesday, the spokeswoman announced a meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and 14 artists and cultural workers.
The online discussion is part of the series »The Chancellor in Conversation«.
Merkel had already talked to parents, students, trainees, trainers and other groups about their situation in the pandemic.
The participants on Tuesday were selected by cultural associations such as the Federal Drama Association and the German Music Council.
It was initially unclear whether there were actors among them who took part in the current video campaign.
Enlarge image
Federal Minister of Health Spahn
Photo: Pool, Sean Gallup / EPA
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) also offered a dialogue.
He could well imagine a conversation, he said.
"That there is criticism and questions about the measures and the background, I find that not only normal, I find that desirable in a free democracy." He could well understand that it hurts not to be able to do the acting profession for months.
"Those who speak are not those in need"
During the legislative process, the German Cultural Council, the umbrella organization of the federal cultural associations, had tried to "get a passage into the Infection Protection Act that even with an incidence value of over 100 cultural events could be possible - of course only in the open air and with strict hygiene conditions." failed, admitted the managing director of the cultural council, Olaf Zimmermann.
"But now it's our turn to the next round." The law is limited to June 30th and will then be renegotiated.
Enlarge image
Cultural Council Managing Director Zimmermann
Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa
But the actors and actresses with their videos »are now making life very, very difficult for us«, continues Zimmermann: »They make our demands seem exaggerated and crazy.
It's not helpful. "He was surprised that the statements in the clips all went in the same direction:" If there was a common script behind it, that would be very problematic, it would be an ugly campaign. "
Of course, the actors are allowed to express themselves like this »and we would always fight to ensure that they are allowed to - but that doesn't mean it still has to be intelligent.« Those who speak are not those in need.
"Others in the cultural sector have not been able to work for 13 months."
"Irony and sarcasm do not solve contradictions"
The President of the German Stage Association, Hamburg's Senator for Culture, Carsten Brosda, was also critical.
The action #allesdichtmachen shows "how increasingly fragile the situation in our society is," said the SPD politician.
»It also shows that we have to take care and express and discuss the contradictions of our time.
But please be constructive and not just sarcastic, ”objected Brosda.
Enlarge image
Head of the stage association and Senator for Culture Brosda
Photo: Christian Charisius / dpa
Brosda pointed out that the culture had just been hit disproportionately.
»Irony and sarcasm, however, resolve these current contradictions in the wrong direction and threaten to come across as cynical.
With all the frustration, cynicism cannot be the right attitude. "
The SPD politician and WDR broadcasting councilor Garrelt Duin called on Friday morning via Twitter to the ARD committees to end the cooperation with actors such as the »Tatort« stars Jan Josef Liefers and Ulrich Tukur.
However, he deleted the tweet after a short time: "Go inside me," he wrote in a new message.
feb / dpa