Harald Burkart scandal
Berlin JU leader shares picture of Merkel as Hitler
January 13, 2024, 7:24 a.m
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The head of the Junge Union Berlin is already controversial. Parts of the party accuse Harald Burkart of having “couped” his way into office. Now, according to a media report, it also comes out: In chat messages, Burkart compared former Chancellor Merkel with Hitler.
According to a media report, several screenshots of internal WhatsApp chats incriminate the Berlin state chairman of the Junge Union, Harald Burkart. They therefore suggest that Burkart compared then-Chancellor Angela Merkel to Adolf Hitler in 2020. This is reported by “Spiegel”, which has the screenshots from the private chat.
Specifically, it’s about a photomontage in which a poster for the movie “Downfall” has been distorted and Merkel can be seen in the role of Hitler. According to the magazine, a photo montage from the right-wing extremist Instagram channel “wachaufdeutschland20” was distributed in another chat message. It shows a cinema poster for the horror film “ES”, with Merkel as the horror figure of the clown. According to the report, Burkart also liked a post by AfD MP Matthias Helferich on Instagram. Helferich’s text speaks of a “doctrine” against the will of the people. “If you equate Adolf Hitler with Angela Merkel, you are not suitable for political office,” said Dennis Haustein, CDU member of the Berlin House of Representatives, to “Spiegel.”
Burkart told the magazine that he was “by no means interested in comparing the personalities” of Merkel and Hitler. “Rather, the focus was on the satirical adaptation of the film,” and there was no political statement associated with the photo. He met AfD MP Helferich at a “private event” and knew nothing of his political background. He has now apparently taken the like back.
There have been heated arguments about Burkart in the Berlin CDU for weeks. His election as JU chairman is controversial. Parts of the party accuse Burkart of using unfair means to “coup” his way into the position. The process of his election is said to have not corresponded to the statutes, and the dispute is also being fought out in party arbitration courts. Haustein also comments accordingly: “Harald Burkart was not elected in accordance with the statutes. The new revelations show why he is not suitable for this office either.”