Disruption at the democracy festival: AfD candidate causes excitement in Oranienburg

Disruption at the democracy festival: AfD candidate causes excitement in Oranienburg

What's going on in Oranienburg? On July 18, 2025, AfD candidate Anja Waschkau and former YouTuber Björn Winter, known as “Björn Banane”, visited the جماعتيكfest in Oranienburg. They not only had their cameras with them, but also their concerns, which they wanted to loudly convey. The event itself was clearly pro-democracy, and the AfD was not officially invited, which had already led to discussions in advance. Those responsible for the event saw the participation of AfD members as a threat to the democratic climate.

As luck would have it, the two of them pushed themselves into the action. Waschkau and Winter were ultimately expelled from the premises after they streamed live for over an hour and a half without the consent of those present and numerous people, including children, filmed them without asking and broadcast them on the Internet. Mayoral candidate Alexander Laesicke was invited to the event and emphasized that he had no influence on the guest list; this was at the discretion of the organizer. This prompted Waschkau to loudly express her displeasure at the exclusion.

Reactions to the disruption

The disruptive action also caused a heated debate outside the event. Laesicke pointed out that house rules must be respected, especially if someone does not want to be filmed. There was criticism primarily from the speakers present, Stefanie Rose from Die Linke and Jennifer Collin-Feeder from the SPD. Rose criticized the fact that the AfD's disruption received a disproportionate amount of attention and did not represent the event, which represented a commitment to democracy. The SPD accused Waschkau of having no interest in a substantive debate.

Winter, who spoke of a “climate of violence, coercion and insult” in his review of the event, was outraged by the reactions of other citizens. According to him, some people present tried to shield him and Waschkau with umbrellas during the stream in order to prevent the recordings. Particularly interesting views on the topic were also discussed online, with comments from prominent business personalities such as the economist Stefan Homburg, who wished Waschkau the election victory, particularly standing out.

A critical election is approaching

The incidents that day cast a shadow over the upcoming mayoral elections in Oranienburg, which will take place in September. Laesicke called for a debate with all candidates in order to further promote political culture in the city. It is unclear whether the AfD's disruptive action was a result of political calculation or whether the lack of invitation actually led to a heated situation.

In Germany's complex political landscape, which is characterized by party diversity and strong federalism, the electoral system is also a decisive factor. The Basic Law ensures that the democratic order remains consolidated externally, and it is important that all political comrades-in-arms adhere to this order.

The incidents in Oranienburg are representative of the challenges that democracy faces today. It remains to be seen how the political landscape will develop in the coming period.

For further details on the events and background, take a look at the reports from maz-online.de and freilich-magazin.com. There is also further general information about the political system of the Republic of Germany Wikipedia.