How the Mainstream Media Presents the Gods of German Politics

He is a godsend for German politics, and next week he could – heaven help! – gain a shred of power: Björn Höcke.

It is time for the mainstream media to present this chick from hell to frightened readers. As agreed, the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Spiegel and Zürcher Tages-Anzeiger have published pictures of the AfD leader in Thuringia.

Journalists know that the essence of photography is the personal encounter and conversation with the person being photographed. It is unfortunate that Hawkey did not want to talk to any of the newspapers.

Really bad of him, isn't it? Well, the newspapers are silent about why. For years they haven't even tried to contact Hawkeye, preferring to smear him from afar.

Taji approaches him at a campaign event and talks to his sympathizers. He leaves no doubt that he thinks they are stupid, but he has discovered a new hair trend – “a flashy parting that the new right wingers love to wear”. Goodbye moustache, hello kev.

Der Spiegel interviews former members of the ADF who have scores to settle with Höcke, thus avoiding a reputation for objectivity. Otherwise, the sources remain obscure. At least the magazine has created a reference to the Augsburger Puppenkiste: Höcke is like Jim Knopf's giant pseudo-Tur Tur. He shrinks as you get closer.

As expected, SZ turned out to be big. No less than seven authors were responsible for the picture. Plus two assistants. Compared to this human effort, the facts here are also very weak. There are a lot of whispers, guesses, and rumors in the text: “comrades” say, “people in the party” say, “comrades-in-arms of that time made an impression,” and many things can simply be “guessed.”

However, the Munich newspaper's intensive research team discovered a letter from Höcke to Lausitzer Rundschau in 2003. And because the Süddeutsche values ​​good writing, you can also find good formulas: “A history teacher wants to write history” and “You can ask who this man is.” But what reveals a lot is who this man wants to be.”

The Süddeutsche doesn't have an answer to either question. Of course, Höcke is not a “blue dwarf from Erfurt,” but he's not a “blue giant” either. Which brings us back to Mr. Tor Tor.

No sustainable fabric can be woven from prejudice, rumors and gossip. There is only one thing left: wait and see who Hawk will reveal himself after the election – a dwarf or a giant.