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Betreibt "Campact" Hetzkampagnen, Felix Kolb?

Oct 8, 2026 · 1h 10m

Summary

Felix Kolb, founder of the NGO Campact, defends his organization’s strategy of recommending specific parties to voters to prevent AfD majorities, rejecting claims that it acts as a Green Party front. The interview covers Campact’s operational model, including its five million supporters and legal battles over losing tax-exempt status for political campaigning. Kolb argues that such civic engagement is essential for defending democracy against right-wing populism, while addressing criticisms of cancel culture and comparing German political norms to those in the US and Europe.

Topics discussed

Introduction: Criticism of Campact and Bodo Ramelow Campact's role in strategic voting campaigns Neutrality and support for CDU candidates Case study: Preventing AfD majority in Saxony-Anhalt Legal framework: Party Act and campaign monetization Legitimacy of political recommendations in democracy Decoupling content from tactical voting messages Comparison with right-wing and anti-abortion campaigns Academic perspective: US vs German political culture European comparison and sister organizations Legitimacy limits for civil society organizations Empowerment, petitions, and email list mechanics Funding model: Donations and independence Loss of charitable status and legal disputes Tax law, political neutrality, and double standards Consequences of losing charitable status Retrospective: TTIP, CETA, and strategic errors Understanding AfD voters and democratic compromises Nuclear phase-out and criticism of Merkel Protests against Merz and media coverage of demos Media incentives and funding restrictions for NGOs CDU's stance on pluralism and Campact exclusion Boycott of DM and corporate responsibility Effectiveness of boycotts and consumer power Tolerance of intolerants and the case for banning AfD Is a ban a declaration of bankruptcy for civil society? Upcoming renewable energy demonstration Optimism, Orbán's defeat, and future scenarios Outro and sponsor message
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