Berlin, Germany — April 19, 2026
German folk singer Heino, 87, has launched legal proceedings against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after its candidate Felix Teichner used the artist’s name in social media campaign posts without permission. The AfD politician claimed "Am Sonntag würde Heino Felix wählen" ("On Sunday, Heino would vote for Felix"), prompting swift backlash from the musician’s team.
Legal Action and Campaign Controversy
Heino’s management condemned the unauthorized use of his name, calling it "eine Unverschämtheit, und das geht zu weit" ("an impertinence, and this goes too far"). The singer, known for his traditional German music, has repeatedly distanced himself from the AfD, which Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classifies as "gesichert rechtsextrem" ("confirmed right-wing extremist").
Teichner, a 35-year-old AfD candidate, deleted the posts after being asked to sign a cease-and-desist declaration. He later described himself as a Heino fan, dismissing suggestions that the singer sympathized with the far right as "der größte Schwachsinn, den es gibt" ("the biggest nonsense there is"). The incident was first reported by German tabloid *Bild*.
Political and Cultural Tensions
The dispute highlights broader tensions over the AfD’s attempts to claim cultural symbols like "Heimat" (homeland), a theme Heino has addressed critically. "Es ist ein großes Problem in Deutschland, dass man das Thema Heimat mehr oder weniger einer Partei überlassen hat, und zwar der falschen," he has said, arguing that the AfD monopolizes the concept of national identity.