Left Party faction demands ban for right-wing comedian Nikolai Binner in city venues

The Left Party faction in Frankfurt's city council (Römer) has called for the cancellation of a planned performance by comedian Nikolai Binner, whom they label as right-wing, in the city-owned Saalbau Volkshaus Enkheim. The faction asserts that municipal venues should not host Binner's shows.

Describing Binner as not just right-wing but "extremely right-wing," the faction points to his past stage appearances and social media content, which they claim are "antisemitic, racist, and sexist, and dehumanizing." They also reference merchandise sold by Binner featuring right-wing slogans such as "remigration."

Binner's online shop features merchandise with right-wing slogans and symbols. One t-shirt reads "Not so far right, just right so far," while another displays combat boots with the text "Staatsfeind Nr. 2" (Enemy of the State No. 2).

Binner has appeared in videos that have drawn criticism. One video features an interview with a Wehrmacht veteran, which has been interpreted as downplaying wartime actions. Another video discusses AfD politician Björn Höcke and his use of the SA slogan "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany), for which Höcke was fined. Binner's performances are described as attempts to "trigger" left-leaning and liberal audiences, often on topics like migration.

The Left Party faction argues that allowing performances by "right-wing artists" like Binner contributes to the normalization efforts of right-wing groups and their gradual societal integration.