Comedian and actor Bastian Pastewka has expressed deep concern about the shrinking of free expression and press freedom in the United States. “Autocrats simply have no sense of humor. That makes them, at times, ridiculous figures, but this ridicule should not deceive us” he told the German news network Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. “We must realize that what a U.S. president is doing right now is dangerously threatening global cohesion”.
Though he has never been censored himself, Pastewka urges vigilance. “Critical voices are the first to be silenced by autocratic governments and potentially fascist-like systems” he said. Looking at political developments at home, he noted, “It is clear to me that what happens in America also serves as a model for other countries. After the rightward shift in Germany, we are experiencing right‑wing pressure”.
Pastewka described Germany’s democracy as fragile. “The right‑wing extremists look for opportunities to call for a ‘state broadcaster’ in the direction of ARD and ZDF, yet they have no ideas for meaningful solutions. They only spin and stoke hatred”. He emphasized that entertainers and satirists are the first targets of attacks because they champion freely chosen opinions.
