Berlin has dismissed Poland's protests regarding an "insulting" parade float during the carnival. The float showed Polish leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski with a booted foot on the head of a woman depicting Poland.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
Advertisement
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Wednesday that Berlin would not interfere with carnival organizers in Düsseldorf about the controversial creation. "We have freedom of expression in Germany, freedom of art," Seibert said, adding that this freedom would be maintained even if it became uncomfortable for those being represented.
The carnival float, created by organizers in Düsseldorf, depicted Poland as a woman being stepped on by a booted Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the conservative PiS party. The float was shown in front of Düsseldorf's city hall for a short period after the traditional carnival parade on Rose Monday was canceled due to storm warnings.
On Tuesday, Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski, also a PiS member, called the installation an "insult to Poland and Polish politicians" and said he would register a protest with Berlin.
Relations between Germany and Poland have suffered after the conservative PiS party took over the government. Last month, Berlin and Warsaw clashed because of Poland's restrictive media laws and a reduction in the powers of Poland's constitutional court. Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo is also against a distribution quota for refugees in the European Union, which has further worsened relations.
However, ties may be salvaged after a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Szydlo, who is scheduled to visit Berlin on Friday. "This is the first chance to exchange opinions intensively and thoroughly and the German Chancellor is looking forward to it," Merkel's spokesman Seibert told journalists.
German Carnival: Politically explosive parade floats
German Carnival has a reputation for satirically themed floats in the Rose Monday parades. Float builders in Dusseldorf and Cologne rarely shy away from politically explosive themes.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Merkel swept away
A float with a 'refugee wave' sweeping away Merkel was among the floats showcased near the Dusseldorf town hall. The Dusseldorf parade was cancelled due to windy weather, so some floats were positioned outside the town hall.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
Governmental changes in Poland
This float deals with the change of government in Poland with a caricature of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, president of the governing party PiS. The country's foreing minister condemned the float saying it showed "contempt for Poland."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
Merkel cracking nuts
Merkel is a beloved subject for float builders: this float in Cologne showed Chancellor Merkel and the tough nuts she has to crack, accompanied by her famous statement "Wir schaffen das" ("We can do it").
Image: DW/S. Gushcha
Nobel Peace Prize
This 'Nobel Peace Prize' labeled float makes fun of Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un and Syrian president Bashar Assad in Cologne.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O.Berg
Right-wing parties
This float symbolizing right-wing parties attacking democracy makes its way through carnival revellers during the annual Rose Monday parade in Cologne.
Image: Getty Images/V. Hartmann
A black eye for Trump
Donald Trump also fell victim to the float builders' wit. This float would have taken part in the parade in Dusseldorf, where the parade was cancelled because of high winds.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
IS faced with clowns
Even "Islamic State" (IS) terror was not spared by Dusseldorf's float builders.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
Seehofer's political weight
A carnival float with a giant caricature of Seehofer, chairman of the CSU and premier of the southern German state of Bavaria, was on display in Dusseldorf.
