In the final spurt to the local elections, the tone in Fulda is becoming sharper. The trigger is an Instagram video from the CDU Fulda – and a patrol car in front of the city police station.

Fulda – At the end of the election campaign Local election There is trouble in Fulda. In the short Instagram video, the two CDU city councilors Benedikt Ihrig and Thomas Hering talk about security in the city. The scene was filmed in front of the city police station, with a city police vehicle in the background. The Left and the SPD accuse the party of blurring the boundaries between party politics and civil servant status during the election campaign.

Both politicians have a police background: Ihrig is a police chief commissioner, Hering was also a police officer before his time as a member of the Hessian state parliament. The video is about ensuring that citizens can enjoy events in the city without any worries.

CDU video with police officer causes trouble in the election campaign

The Fulda Left in particular criticized the video. In a statement, the party asks: “Is a CDU candidate knowingly violating the Civil Service Status Act and abusing his status as a police officer?” Specifically, she refers to paragraph 33. This states, among other things, that civil servants serve “the entire people, not a party” and must maintain “moderation and restraint” when engaging in political activities. According to the Left, Ihrig speaks in the video from the perspective of an active police officer, thus blurring the boundaries between official duties and party political commitment.

Another point of criticism concerns the police vehicle in the background. The Left believes it is “very suspicious” that the car was standing exactly there during the filming and even appears to be blocking the exit of the city guard in the video. If the vehicle was specifically positioned for the shoot, that could also violate the so-called rule of moderation, according to the party. She demands clarification.

CDU city councilor and state parliament member Thomas Hering firmly rejects the allegations. For him it is a “transparent attempt to poison the election campaign and distract from its own content deficits”. The video addresses a central concern of Fulda's citizens: safety in everyday life – for example at cathedral concerts or at the Christmas market. The fact that an active police officer is talking about it is an “authentic testimony”.

Hering also emphasizes that the video was recorded outside of work hours and in private clothing. However, a candidate's job is part of his personality and life story. He describes the Left's accusations as a strategy of desperation and at the same time accuses the party of having a problematic relationship with the police. In his statement, he recalls the historical roots of the Left in the SED and speaks of methods that were reminiscent of “unofficial collaboration”.

The city of Fulda sees no reason for complaint

The SPD has now also joined the debate. “How nervous must at least parts of the CDU be when criticism is insulted or responded to with verbal blows?” asks the SPD city association in a press release. The SPD also sees open questions in terms of content. A CDU poster with a city guard, a police vehicle and CDU representatives – including an active police officer and a former civil servant – gives “significant cause for criticism,” says co-chair Hans-Joachim Tritschler.

The SPD therefore asked the Kassel regional council to investigate, but it did not declare itself responsible and referred the matter to the city of Fulda. Now the SPD is thinking about involving the Hessian Ministry of the Interior. Regardless of the legal question, Tritschler asks a fundamental question: “Does the CDU have the right to capture authorities or institutions?” The SPD emphasizes that security is not an issue for a single party.

The city of Fulda itself sees the matter more calmly. At the request of the Fulda newspaper The city press office explains that the legal office had already examined the allegations at the end of February – at the request of the regional council. The facade of the city guard and the city police vehicle were therefore freely visible from public traffic. The vehicle was parked on a public street.

“Neither taking photographs of freely visible city vehicles or facilities nor depicting them on election posters requires approval,” the city said. Mayor Dag Wehner is responsible for the law and order office – at the same time chairman of the CDU city association.

East Hesse Police Headquarters emphasizes: “Video is in the border area”

Upon request, the East Hesse Police Headquarters explains that civil servants – including the police – are allowed to engage in politics outside of their duties and express their opinions as private individuals. However, the rule of moderation applies: political statements must remain objective and reserved; Care should also be taken to ensure that trust in the functionality of the administration is maintained.

At the same time, the fundamental right to freedom of expression gains in importance when civil servants act as private individuals. In addition, an exception applies to candidates for political office: due to the principle of equal opportunities, they are permitted to engage in “polemics typical of election campaigns” in the election campaign.

In principle, civil servants are allowed to use their official title outside of work, for example during election campaigns. This would only be inadmissible if it gave the impression that a political opinion was given special weight simply because of civil servant status (“official bonus”).

Regarding the filming location, the East Hesse Police Headquarters explains that the area in front of the city police station and the official vehicle parked there are publicly accessible and visible. According to the police's current assessment, “the contents of the video are well within the limits of permissible political activity.”