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CDU member of the Bundestag meets with right-wing conspiracy ideologues

2020-08-21T14:31:31.744Z


The CDU member Bernstiel met with the action artist "barrel organ Rolf", who spreads conspiracy ideologies. The Christian Democrat claims not to have known anything of his political views.


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Christoph Bernstiel (CDU) in the Bundestag 2019

Photo: Wolfgang Kumm / DPA

The CDU member of the Bundestag and city council in Halle (Saale), Christoph Bernstiel, does not want to have known about the right-wing activities of a conversation partner. Last Tuesday, during his summer tour in the constituency, he met the action artist and conspiracy ideologist Rolf Becker, also known as "barrel organ Rolf", for a photo opportunity. "The Halle performance artist is a real original, and with his various Trabbis he has traveled to more than 80 countries," wrote Bernstiel afterwards on his Facebook page. "Thank you very much for this unique opportunity and all the best!", He wished him.

Among other things, Becker spreads the claim on the Internet that the European Union was founded by the CIA and the Nazis. In a post it says that "we" are "led by criminals" and "criminals = NATO partners". He also repeatedly shares AfD postings. Among other things, from ex-AfD city councilor Donatus Schmidt, who resigned from his offices in November due to accusations of anti-Semitism.

"Mr. Becker's political views" were not known to him and "were not part of the conversation either," said Bernstiel's office to SPIEGEL.

The MP belongs to the right wing of the Saxony-Anhalt CDU state association, from which some hope to work with the AfD. In January, Bernstiel invited the former head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Hans-Georg Maaßen, to an appointment in Saxony-Anhalt.

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Christoph Bernstiel, the chairman of the CDU Halle, Marco Tullner, and Hans-Georg Maaßen, former President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Photo: Heiko Rebsch / picture alliance

Compared to SPIEGEL, Bernstiel refers to a decision by the regional association and says he rejects a coalition with the AfD. In 2018 he resigned from the "Sängerschaft Fridericiana Halle". There was a dispute over a member who is close to the Identity Movement observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

SPIEGEL recently reported on Bernstiel in connection with a trip to Saudi Arabia. The MP had been invited on a four-day short trip to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. The travel costs of 6,555.63 euros, including business class flights, were paid for by the "Consultative Assembly of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia".

The trip took place in December 2019. Shortly afterwards, he wrote on his Facebook page: "At the end of my journey, I am looking at a country that is opening up socially, is looking for Western business contacts, is looking for modern technology beyond oil, is initiating courageous reforms and, in a few years, perhaps the United States Will replace the Arab Emirates as a tourist magnet. " He also advertised a company from his constituency and exchanged ideas with the Saudis' security authorities about combating terrorism and extremism. He hadn't mentioned that he was paid for the trip.

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Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2020-08-21

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