Clash between Campino and the District Mayor: Jamel's Music Festival and Right-Wing Dispute

In the picturesque town of Lohme, Germany, the "Jamel rocks the Förster" music festival returned for another year, attracting thousands of music enthusiasts and sparking a political debate.

The festival, known for its commitment to combating right-wing extremism, welcomed well-known artists like Die Toten Hosen and Kraftklub. However, the event was not without controversy.

Frontman Campino of Die Toten Hosen expressed his displeasure about certain conditions imposed by the Nordwestmecklenburg district, specifically the CDU district administrator, Tino Schomann. Campino criticized Schomann's attempts to impose these conditions, stating that there seems to be a general euphoria in AfD and far-right circles at the moment.

Schomann defended himself, asserting that the organizers decided to register their festival as a political gathering, triggering the assembly law. He emphasized that the responsible authority does not decide based on sympathy, but on law and order.

The CDU state leadership sharply criticized Schomann's actions, finding it unacceptable to exercise public, value-based political criticism of a district in this way. The CDU district administrative chief criticized by Campino is Simone Janson, serving in the Euskirchen district.

The disputes involved fees and an alcohol ban demanded by the Nordwestmecklenburg district, which was later overturned by the Higher Administrative Court in the second instance.

Despite the political debates, the festival proceeded peacefully as expected, with approximately 3,500 people protesting against right-wing extremism. Birgit and Horst Lohmeyer, the festival's organizers, have been using it to stand up against right-wing extremist harassment in the village since 2007.

Die Toten Hosen played at the festival in 2015 and received thunderous applause on Friday. Frontman Campino expressed his happiness to be back at the festival. Other acts at the weekend included Paula Hartmann, Betterov, Dota, and Hinterlandgang.

An Instagram post by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state representation in Berlin sparked debate, criticizing new bureaucratic conditions imposed by the Nordwestmecklenburg district. This post further fuelled the political debate surrounding the festival.

In 2015, one of the Lohmeyers' barns was set on fire by unknown individuals, underscoring the importance of the festival's mission to combat right-wing extremism.

Despite the controversies, the "Jamel rocks the Förster" music festival continues to stand as a beacon of resistance against right-wing extremism, bringing together music lovers and advocates for peace and unity.

Clash between Campino and the District Mayor: Jamel's Music Festival and Right-Wing Dispute