The claim

A circulating carnival photo is said to show a theme float from a Rose Monday procession where the Greens are criticized.

Our conclusion

The image was distorted to show the Greens instead of the AfD. The carnival float was originally aimed at the right-wing extremist development of the AfD.

Carnival, a festival of satire and mockery, often uses the freedom of fools to sharply criticize political and social conditions. This caused a stir over a photo of a carnival float that was supposedly intended to cast the Greens in a fascist light. But the truth behind the picture is different. In fact, the theme float shared on social media was originally aimed at the AfD and not the Greens. The manipulation of the photo distorts the artist's intention and the context of the carnival parade in order to distort political narratives.

What are we talking about?

A photo of a carnival float is circulating on social media that allegedly criticizes the Greens. The picture shows figures that are intended to represent a gradual change towards fascism.

Social media screenshot of the manipulated photo
Social media screenshot of the manipulated photo

But in reality the photo was manipulated. Originally, the car on the Düsseldorf Rose Monday parade in 2016 represented the AfD, symbolized by the transformation of the party color from blue to brown - an allusion to Germany's National Socialist past.

Screenshot of the original from 2016
Screenshot of the original from 2016

Our review of the manipulated photo

The manipulated photo is an example of the deliberate misinformation within political debates. Such falsifications attempt to influence public opinion and unjustifiably discredit political opponents. The original depiction of the car as a criticism of the AfD and its development towards right-wing extremist positions is completely distorted by the manipulation.

Facts about the manipulated carnival photo

  • Origin of the representation : The motto car, designed by Jacques Tilly, originally paraded through Düsseldorf in 2016 and criticized the AfD.
  • Manipulation and distribution : The photo was subsequently edited to seemingly redirect criticism towards the Greens and spread on social media starting February 9, 2024.
  • The Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the AfD : The AfD is increasingly in the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, with parts of the party being classified as firmly right-wing extremist. This development confirms the original intention of the carnival float and underscores the importance of vigilance against political extremism.

Questions and answers about the manipulated carnival photo:

Question 1: What does the manipulated carnival photo actually show?
Answer 1: The manipulated photo originally shows a theme car that criticizes the AfD, not the Greens.

Question 2: What does the color change from blue to brown on the car represent?
Answer 2: The color change symbolizes the feared development of the AfD from a political party to one that represents right-wing extremist positions.

Question 3: Why was the photo manipulated?
Answer 3: The photo was manipulated to spread false narratives and unjustifiably discredit political opponents.

Question 4: What role does the Office for the Protection of the Constitution play in assessing the AfD?
Answer 4: The Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies parts of the AfD as definitely right-wing extremist, which underlines the criticism of the party's political course.

Question 5: What does dealing with such manipulated images teach us?
Answer 5: Critical handling of information on social media is essential to identify and debunk misinformation.

Conclusion on the manipulated carnival photo

The manipulated carnival photo is an example of the deliberate spread of misinformation in political debates. By distorting the original message of the motto float, an attempt is made to influence public perception and discredit political opponents. It highlights the need for critical media literacy and source checking, particularly in times of political polarization.

Mimikama tip

To counter such misinformation, we recommend subscribing to our newsletter and registering for our online lectures and workshops. Find out about Mimikama newsletters and join our monthly Mimikama online lectures to strengthen your media literacy.

Source: dpa fact checking

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )