Following loud protests during a summer interview of of far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel – public broadcaster ARD is planning for more disruptions this Sunday when a Green Party politician is in the hot seat.
Two demonstrations have been registered with the authorities, as is required under German law, for when Green Party co-leader Felix Banaszak will face journalists this Sunday, according to a report by the Welt newspaper on Friday.
“We are keeping a close eye on the situation,” a spokeswoman for the Berlin police told dpa, adding that the police is in close contact with ARD’s capital studio.
The pro-nuclear energy association Nuklearia plans to protest on Sunday in front of the Bundestag where the interview will take place, the newspaper reported. The group aims to advocate for “the reintroduction of nuclear energy in Germany for environmental protection and secure, affordable energy supply.”
An association spokesman assured that no acoustic disturbances using loudspeakers or megaphones are planned, the newspaper reported. However, the group intends to position their protest banners “within the view of television cameras.”
Loud protests during Weidel interview
The summer interview is a German public broadcaster tradition. It is usually recorded on the terrace of the Bundestag or German parliament.
On July 20, during the live-streamed interview with AfD leader Weidel, a loud protest took place, which included a demonstration on the opposite bank of the Spree river featuring whistles, horns and loud music with anti-AfD slogans, which were clearly audible in the broadcast.