During Weiberfastnacht, the city council’s parade organisers prohibited a group of teachers, parents and pupils of the Realschule Beuel showing critical posters, mentioning the asbestos of the new school buildings of the former Anne-Frank-Hauptschule. On the posters one could read phrases like „One fibre is enough to get you into heaven“. In another message the district mayor Guido Déus was mentioned by name, in a satirical spin of the church phrase „In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit“: „In nomine DEUS et CDUus in Asbest sancti“.

The scolded politician held back judgement on the situation: „I think this is overblown, especially because a political majority voted for the move to the new premises. But others should judge this objectively“, said Déus. He only heard of the poster ban after the parade and has not been involved in the decision making: „I probably would have let it happen.“

The city council, who organises the parade, issued a statement in which it said they regretted „the irritations“ which were caused. Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan said: „The artistic licence involves freedom and the freedom of opinion is a valuable right.“ At the same time the situation poses the question if a traditional folk event should be used for political statements. The vice president of the Bonn festive committee, Stephan Eisel, thinks that „a persiflage is okay, but personal attacks are not“.

Horst Gehrmann, CDU faction head, asked: „When is the fine line crossed?“ He showed his understanding for the parade organisers: „Some posters were suggesting that the pupils were exposed to health risks on purpose.“ Bärbel Richter (SPD) said that personal attacks against one person were not necessary: „If carnival participants attack groups - like political parties - we have to endure that.“

Werner Hümmrich (FDP) explained: „The messages of the school carry significant anger. Carnival is supposed to allow someone’s leg to be pulled and facilitate people getting together.“ Tim Achtermeyer (Green Party) voiced concerns against all kinds of censorship: „I think the poster ban is politically wrong. A carnival’s parade is historically political.

It is the school’s parents’ board’s full right to convey their position in a humorous way during carnival.“ Johannes Schott (Bürger Bund Bonn) agrees: „The poster ban was over the top.“ The city council should not prohibit their citizens from voicing their opinion. Councillor Jürgen Repschläger (Linke) declared: „The election of the Lord Mayor is an act of democracy. His term of office seems not to be though, and could rather be compared to an electoral reign.“

The Lord Mayor was not involved in the decision. As city council spokesperson Monika Hörig said, the school was informed that the announced motto „We have a new nest, but unfortunately full of asbestos“ was considered rather „unfortunate“. As there was no reaction to this, it was not considered when the parade information was sent out to all participants“. During the parade the organisers noticed the posters and decided with the coordination team that the posters were not to be shown.

It was not possible to check with the city council and the school’s principal was also not reachable at this time. He was also not available for comment on Friday. The opposing comment remains unexplained. Ramona Schreiter, parents’ representative of the Realschule explained: „I inquired with the responsible authorities and was told there were no problems with the motto.“

During the parade the school representatives tried to hold up the posters but were interrupted by security staff who also tried to keep GA photographers from taking pictures. The Lord Mayor compared the case with a sport situation: „It’s like on a soccer pitch. The referee has the last word and makes the decision. If this is judged differently later, it is a different matter“, said Sridharan.

Original text: Philipp Königs. Translation: Mareike Graepel