Controversial park festival in Lassan: Right-wing extremist connections discussed again!

Controversial park festival in Lassan: Right-wing extremist connections discussed again!

The Lassan Park Festival is just around the corner - an event that will be celebrated again this year as a World Children's Day celebration with a concert. But behind the festival's façade, some worrying details emerge. As Katapult reports, the festival is co-organized by, among others, Christian Hilse, a former NPD politician. His connection to the right-wing extremist scene is causing controversy, especially since the band “Different Ways”, which will be performing at the festival, is also in this context.

As a reminder: The right-wing extremist band Biertrinzaz was a guest at the festival's premiere two years ago, which caused a huge stir at the time. Mayor Fred Gransow of the CDU has made it clear that he does not condone the right-wing extremist connections, but remains of the opinion that events can also have unpleasant aspects as long as no crimes are committed.

Back to the roots?

The festival is organized by “committed private individuals” who present it as a non-political community project. However, this claim is doubted from various quarters, especially since Hilse is not only involved in the festival, but has also run a right-wing extremist online shop in the past and took part in a disbanded right-wing rock concert. Despite his claim to have renounced right-wing extremism, his past is considered questionable.

Reactions to the upcoming event are also divided. Birgit Buchinger from the Alliance of Western Pomerania has criticized the fact that the city is not considering alternative festivities and is therefore ignoring potential dangers. At the same time, the rock band Sick Lick canceled their appearance, which may be due to the right-wing extremist background of the festival.

A rise in right-wing violence

A look at the figures from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is also informative. The violence-oriented right-wing extremist potential was around 15,300 people in 2024. In addition, 37,835 right-wing extremist crimes were registered, including a worrying increase in violent acts. The company is apparently struggling with an increase of 47.4% compared to the previous year. The increasing numbers are a clear sign that the issue of right-wing extremism is still extremely present in Germany and has lost none of its urgency. Verfassungsschutz documents this impressively.

Whether and how the police will monitor the upcoming event remains to be seen. Security requirements have already been imposed and a large police presence is expected to prevent possible riots. However, it remains completely unclear whether right-wing extremists will take part in the event again and what reactions this might provoke in the community.

In a broader political context, the city of Lassan, which celebrates its 750th anniversary next year, is making additional headlines. Christian Hilse is editorially included in a commemorative publication that contains positive words from Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and District Administrator Michael Sack (CDU). Nevertheless, Patrick Dahlemann (SPD), head of the State Chancellery, said that the Prime Minister and the State Chancellery were not informed that a right-wing extremist was involved in the commemorative publication. Such complications could become a political need for those responsible, as NDR reports.

It is clear: the upcoming events in Lassan raise many questions. And while the city cares about the well-being of its citizens, the shadow of right-wing extremism remains unmistakable.