The public prosecutor's office in Dessau-Roßlau has launched an investigation into the German cabaret artist Uwe Steimle following his appearance at an AfD campaign event in Saxony-Anhalt. Authorities are examining whether his comments regarding Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel constitute a disturbance of the public peace through the threat of criminal acts. The investigation follows a panel discussion where Steimle made disparaging remarks about both political figures, drawing immediate scrutiny from legal officials.
During the event, Steimle referenced Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a key figure in the failed 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, while speaking about Chancellor Merz. Regarding a new portrait of Angela Merkel, Steimle suggested that if the nail holding the picture were to break, they would place her against the wall. These statements, delivered in a public forum alongside AfD party leadership, have prompted a formal legal review to determine if the remarks crossed the threshold from protected satire into illegal threats.
In addition to the controversial comments, the event featured the singing of the former East German national anthem, an act that has drawn criticism from various political figures. The investigation is currently in its preliminary stages, and officials emphasize that the initiation of proceedings does not constitute a finding of guilt or a formal accusation of a crime. The legal process will now determine whether the specific language used by the artist violates German law regarding public order and the incitement of violence.