- "The sentiment of 1933, we concur, is not beneficial."
In Saxony and Thuringia, the state parliament is getting voted today. Some popular figures – some of whom hail from eastern Germany themselves – are leveraging their significant online influence to urge their followers to cast their ballots.
Clueso advocates for voting in the state elections
One of them is musician Clueso, a native of Erfurt. "We've put ourselves in a tricky position in my home state of Thuringia. There's excessive opposition, lacking unity," the singer wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself. "We should interact more, argue, and appreciate our differences. Our democratic state is an accomplishment in itself, worthy of defense, and the foundation for a large unity," Clueso wrote.
He wraps up his message with a request to his fans. "Let's unite once more and avoid sliding into extremes. I don't wish to wake up in a nation ruled by extremists. Please head to the polls and make your voice heard," he wrote.
Herbert Grönemeyer also took a public stand. Last Saturday evening, he performed with the band Silbermond at their concert in Dresden. The band members, originally from Bautzen (Saxony), frequently express political opinions. Grönemeyer joined forces with singer Stefanie Kloß in doing so. "What doesn't help, we concur on that, is the spirit of 1933," Grönemeyer sang alongside Kloß. In 1933, Adolf Hitler's National Socialists seized power.
In 2019, Silbermond released the song "My East," in which they tackled their feelings for their homeland. At the time, Stefanie Kloß shared in an interview with Stern that it was disheartening to read negative headlines about her hometown of Bautzen.
Yvonne Catterfeld was also born in Thuringia, specifically in Erfurt. She also uses Instagram to voice her concerns. She is considering those who are "equally invested" in the election and the trend that may manifest in the results. "The AfD is not a solution and will not provide solutions for the challenges, but will only widen the divide in our state and threaten our constitutional state and democracy," she wrote, and asked her followers: "Have you thoroughly read the party manifesto?" Simultaneously, Catterfeld worries that politics has lost most of the voters in Thuringia and Saxony.
Other influential figures in Thuringia are encouraging their followers to vote as well. Singer Nena from Erfurt emphasizes the importance of democratic participation, stating, "Your vote is your voice in the Other, allowing you to shape the future of our state." Similarly, actor Jeanette Hain, who was born in Thuringia, urges her fans to exercise their right to vote, reminding them that, "In a democracy, it's Our Other responsibility to participate in elections and shape the direction of our society."
