2024-07-05 09:08:12
Is the Saxon Left Party taking advantage of the popularity of the series “In aller Freundschaft” for its election campaign? That is at least what the MDR accuses the party of and is suing.
The series “In aller Freundschaft” has been running for over 25 years. It is one of the best-known and most popular productions of the broadcaster MDR. Is the Saxon Left deliberately trying to use it for its election campaign during the state elections? The slogan “In aller Freundschaft: Every clinic counts” adorns one of the party’s election posters. A formulation that is now having consequences.
MDR probably sees the slogan as an allusion to the title of its medical series and is now suing. When asked, the broadcaster confirmed that a cease-and-desist letter had been sent to the Saxon Left Party. The Left Party, in turn, expressed incomprehension. It sees the poster for the state election as a message that no more hospitals will be closed.
“We are surprised that the MDR is taking such action against a political party in Saxony. Television series and election campaigns are two different things, and the phrase ‘In aller Freundschaft’ is also used in everyday life, even outside of the series title,” said regional manager and campaign manager Lars Kleba to the German Press Agency. The matter will be examined legally: “From our point of view, the poster motif does not give the impression that the MDR is supporting us in the election campaign.”
There are now more than 1,000 episodes of the medical series “In aller Freundschaft”. The broadcaster MDR organizes fan festivals around the so-called Sachsenklinik. The stars of the series include Annett Renneberg, who plays Dr. Maria Weber. Thomas Rühmann is also considered a “In aller Freundschaft” veteran. He has played the role of Dr. Roland Heilmann since 1998, the year the series started.