Michael von Hassel left a picture to the CSU.
Now the photo artist is demanding the loan back.
He shares his reasons with CSU boss Dr.
Markus Söder in a letter and severely criticizes his corona policy.
Geretsried/Munich - It is called "Heaven of Bavaria" and hangs opposite the office of the CSU party leader and Prime Minister Dr.
Markus Soder.
It is a stately picture and shows the hacker tent at the Munich Oktoberfest.
It comes from Michael von Hassel.
The 43-year-old, who grew up in Geretsried, loaned it to the CSU state leadership.
Now the photo artist is demanding it back.
In a four-page letter to the CSU party leader, von Hassel explains his reasons for this and severely criticizes Söder and his Corona policy.
Loss of sales of around 350,000 euros due to Corona
"First of all, the various corona measures taken by politicians cost me around 350,000 euros in planned, contractually agreed sales," he writes.
In the second lockdown, cultural workers and artists were repeatedly promised that they would receive compensation.
"The result was the complete opposite for many of my colleagues and myself": support payments were rejected with the argument that it was a "mixed company".
He could have worked.
Politicians have de facto banned artists like me from working, promised compensation and have kept nothing.
That's indecent.
Photo artist Michael von Hassel
According to von Hassel, the reply letters do not even have a signature, but were created automatically.
"So no one had the guts to stand up and say, 'I refused,'" criticizes the writer.
"That's cheeky, heartless and not what you promised," he says to the CSU party leader.
“Politicians have de facto banned artists like me from working, promised compensation and have not kept anything.
That is indecent.”
A politics of division and exclusion
Far more important than his own fate is Söder's "intolerable policy" of division and exclusion.
Von Hassel accused the country's father of lying: For months it had been promised that there would be no compulsory vaccination.
"Then that's exactly what you're working towards."
In an interview with our newspaper, the photo artist emphasizes that he is not opposed to vaccinations.
He also did not want to downplay Corona.
"I am aware that people die from it." He himself survived an infection with a moderate "cold".
But vaccination against the corona virus does not seem to be an option for him.
Several family members died of a heart attack.
He claims, "Three cardiologists told me to refuse the vaccine."
The letter is making waves on social media
Von Hassel sent the letter to the CSU state leadership in December and published it on social networks on Thursday.
There, surprisingly for the author, he made waves and caused numerous comments, most of which were in agreement.
"Perhaps they will take it as an opportunity to change something for the better," hopes the 43-year-old.
Appointment for return agreed
The CSU has since contacted him: they have expressed regret and made an appointment with him: Next Tuesday, the photo artist will pick up the two-meter by 1.25-meter "Heaven of Bavaria".
nope
Also read: Artists report how they deal with the Corona crisis
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.