Compact magazine is back as Nancy.
Only a few weeks ago, Interior Minister Faeser banned the right-wing extremist "Compact" magazine. Now, it seems, the magazine edited by Jürgen Elsässer is making a comeback - with a new publisher, new design, and new name. Those responsible are celebrating their circumvention of the ban, but they might be celebrating too soon.
In essence, the topic of the "Compact" magazine was almost passe for Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. However, she may now be dealing with the right-wing extremist magazine edited by former chief editor Jürgen Elsässer for longer than initially thought. After her ministry banned two societies behind the magazine in mid-July, the magazine disappeared from newsstands nationwide. While it has not yet returned, its anti-constitutional contents seem to be published nonetheless.
This was revealed on the sidelines of an AfD event in the Brandenburg town of Falkensee, where "Compact" is based. The event had already caused controversy with the city and was supposed to focus on the "Compact" ban. When Elsässer and his lawyers announced a press conference at the town hall, the event was subject to conditions. To circumvent these, the crowd gathered in Falkensee turned the event into an impromptu demonstration outside the hall.
There, Anselm Lenz and Hendrik Sodenkamp announced that they would publish the contents of the "Compact" August issue in their own publishing house. Lenz and Sodenkamp are the founders of the equally radical weekly newspaper "Democratic Resistance." The planned contents of the right-wing extremist magazine will initially be available online and later in their printed newspaper. However, the name "Compact" will not appear anywhere; instead, the magazine will have a new name - "Nancy."
Conspiracy Theories in "Democratic Resistance"
"In 'Nancy', at least in this issue, you will find the contents of the August issue of 'Compact'," Elsässer later confirmed. He said that Faeser's ministry would not succeed in taking his magazine off the streets. "What Mrs. Faeser wanted to ban cannot be banned," he said, while also claiming that he was not involved in the publication.
The ideological proximity of "Compact" and "Democratic Resistance" is hard to miss. The publisher emerged from the Querdenker movement, and Lenz and Sodenkamp organized numerous corona demonstrations, often in cooperation with right-wing groups, as various media outlets report. The weekly newspaper is already on the radar of the Verfassungsschutz, which classifies it as a "conspiracy-ideological publication." According to the Verfassungsschutz, the newspaper aims to radicalize people with anti-constitutional goals.
A look at the website leaves little doubt. It states, for example, that "too many people are exposed to the Gleichschaltung of representation and the propaganda of corporations and governments." It continues: "We are witnessing the attempt at a terrorist dictatorship by the most reactionary, chauvinistic, and imperialistic elements of financial capital."
Moreover, the website now heavily promotes the new magazine "Nancy." The cover of the newspaper features Interior Minister Faeser, with a burning background and a One-Love armband, a symbol against exclusion. The title page promises "revelations" about how the country is being "ruined." However, those interested in getting a taste of these alleged "revelations" will have to be patient.
How a download link is made available:
A download link is only made available once the price for the magazine - 10 euros - has been transferred and credited to the account of Lenz and Sodenkamp. In addition to entering the usual contact details, a sentence must also be completed: "Everyone has the right to express and disseminate their opinion in word, writing, and image (...)." The available answer options are: "Yellow", "Cute", "Black", "Free", "Sweet".
The magazine stands out for its questionable headlines and constant reference to the "Compact" magazine and its ban. The operators of the site even boast about circumventing the ban. When announcing the publication of "Nancy" in Falkensee, Lenz spoke of a "state attempt at eradication". The magazine is promoted online with the words: "Read what you're not supposed to read here." With the publication, one is said to be entering "dangerous new territory".
Continuation of "Compact" - or not?
However, the alleged continuation of "Compact" has little to do with new territory. Rather, it is a process that, although it keeps the Federal Ministry of the Interior busy, is by no means new to them. According to the ministry, it is now particularly important to check whether there is a criminal continuation. The process is being observed, but the public prosecutor's office is initially responsible.
If the investigators conclude that it is indeed a continuation, the publisher of Lenz and Sodenkamp faces a ban. Moreover, the responsible parties could have committed a criminal offense. The consequence would be a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine.
At first glance, there seems to be little doubt that "Nancy" is "Compact" in a new design. After all, Lenz, Sodenkamp, and Elsaesser themselves advertised that it contains the same content and they have taken over the complete texts. However, it is not only the self-promotion that matters - several points could actually speak against a continuation of "Compact" and for an independent magazine. For example, the "Democratic Resistance" has already existed since 2020 with its own orientation, as reported by "Legal Tribune Online".
Elsaesser fights against "Compact" ban
In addition, "Nancy" would now have to appear regularly - at least to some extent. For a real continuation, a single appearance would hardly be sufficient. Lenz and Sodenkamp left this question open. It is not yet certain whether the August edition will remain the only one. There are also no indications that the "Compact" editorial team has been taken over. This would at least be an important indication of a continuation of the right-wing extremist magazine. This point may be one of the reasons why Elsaesser repeatedly emphasized that he had nothing to do with the publication.
While lawyers are now also dealing with "Nancy", "Compact" itself remains a topic. Elsaesser and his lawyers are fighting against the ban. A lawsuit was filed with the Federal Administrative Court just last week. The stated goal is to continue working on the magazine - in its original form. The court has given the Federal Ministry of the Interior until next Monday to submit a statement, lawyer Gerhard Vierfuß announced in Falkensee.
Home Secretary Faeser had banned the associations behind "Compact" as the magazine was a "central mouthpiece of the right-wing extremist scene". The Interior Minister emphasized the danger of the publication, as it spreads "antisemitic, racist, anti-minority, revisionist, and conspiracy-theory content".
The European Union may express concern over the resurfacing of the right-wing extremist magazine "Compact" under a new name, "Nancy." The European Union has long been advocates for combating extremism and promoting democratic values, making the continued publication of such content problematic.
Furthermore, as the European Union continues to support Germany in upholding its democratic principles, it might view the Interior Ministry's ongoing battle against the publication of "Compact" as a test of Germany's commitment to these values.
