AfD Election Poster Featuring Brinker Alongside Willy Brandt Sparks Outrage in Berlin
Berlin, September 2, 2026 – An election poster by the Berlin AfD, displaying lead candidate Kristin Brinker next to former governing mayors, including the revered Willy Brandt, has ignited a storm of controversy across various Berlin districts. The poster, intended by the AfD to associate Brinker with historical figures, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals, notably the SPD, just weeks before the Abgeordnetenhaus election on September 20.
Brinker Defends Poster as Tribute to Berlin’s Leaders
Kristin Brinker, the AfD’s top candidate, defended the controversial poster, stating, “The poster shows the former mayors of the city of Berlin, Reuter, Weizsäcker, and Brandt. In a way, they are role models because they – each in his own time, each in his own way – burned for this city and strongly advocated for it.” She added that this dedication has been lacking in recent years and decades, which prompted the creation of the poster. Brinker emphasized that the poster aligns with the party’s slogan, “Make Berlin Strong,” aiming to connect with the tradition of these “great, intelligent minds.”
SPD Candidate Condemns AfD’s Use of Willy Brandt
Steffen Krach, the SPD’s lead candidate for the upcoming election, was among the first to criticize the motive, as reported by the “Tagesspiegel” newsletter “Checkpoint.” Krach invoked Willy Brandt’s own words, stating, “I fully agree with Willy Brandt: it is good for Germany if declared right-wing extremism is not represented in parliaments.” He further urged citizens to view the “unspeakable AfD poster as a warning to all of us to go out on the upcoming election days and cast our vote for democracy and against its enemies from the AfD.”
Matthias Brandt Criticizes “Instrumentalization” of His Father’s Legacy
Matthias Brandt, the son of the former Governing Mayor (1957 to 1966) and later Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt (1969 to 1974), referenced a passage from his book “Nein Sagen” (Saying No) on the subject. He recalled the 2019 state election in Brandenburg, where an AfD poster featured his father’s quote, “Dare more democracy.” Matthias Brandt wrote, “Speechlessness was my first reaction to what was to be seen here. Because one thing I know: My father stood for everything this party stands against. To be instrumentalized by the AfD of all parties is the last thing he deserved.”
Brinker’s Internal Reservations and Party Strategy
Kristin Brinker admitted that she herself had reservations about the poster’s imagery. “I must confess, I personally struggled with it because anyone who knows me knows that I am not presumptuous,” she said. However, she explained that her colleagues found the poster “so fitting” for their campaign slogan, “Make Berlin Strong,” aligning with the tradition of these historical figures. Brinker could not specify the total number of such posters displayed across Berlin, noting that it was a decision made by the district associations. She confirmed that she was aware of three districts currently using the controversial poster.
Wider Political Context and Upcoming Election
The controversy surrounding the AfD’s election poster highlights the charged political atmosphere in Berlin as the city approaches the Abgeordnetenhaus election on September 20. The use of historical figures, particularly those with strong democratic legacies like Willy Brandt, by parties with differing ideologies often leads to intense debate and accusations of political instrumentalization. This incident underscores the ongoing battle for public perception and the interpretation of historical narratives in contemporary German politics.
