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| 'German Borat' shakes up election | 'German Borat' shakes up election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fictional candidate "campaigning" for Germany's parliamentary elections next month would win 18% of the votes if he stood, an opinion poll suggests. | A fictional candidate "campaigning" for Germany's parliamentary elections next month would win 18% of the votes if he stood, an opinion poll suggests. |
| Horst Schlaemmer is not even a real person, let alone a real candidate. | Horst Schlaemmer is not even a real person, let alone a real candidate. |
| Played by comedian Hape Kerkeling, the spoof would-be chancellor has spiced up a campaign criticised as dreary. | Played by comedian Hape Kerkeling, the spoof would-be chancellor has spiced up a campaign criticised as dreary. |
| His campaign slogan "Yes weekend" is inspired by Barack Obama, and he has pledged to replace Germany's national emblem - the eagle - with a bunny. | His campaign slogan "Yes weekend" is inspired by Barack Obama, and he has pledged to replace Germany's national emblem - the eagle - with a bunny. |
| Horst Schlaemmer has become so popular that his spoof "campaign launch" was broadcast live on two TV networks and reportedly attracted more than 100 journalists. | Horst Schlaemmer has become so popular that his spoof "campaign launch" was broadcast live on two TV networks and reportedly attracted more than 100 journalists. |
| Free cosmetic surgery | |
| In real life, Hape Kerkeling is a German comedian and TV presenter who has been one of the country's most popular impersonators for many years. | In real life, Hape Kerkeling is a German comedian and TV presenter who has been one of the country's most popular impersonators for many years. |
| I WANT TO BE ELECTED AD12-41: Roman Emperor Caligula appoints his favourite horse, Incitatus, a senator1981: French comedian Coluche stands down as a presidential candidate despite a following of 10% in polls2000: Winnie the pig stands in London mayoral election2000: US comedian Michael Moore enters a ficus plant as a candidate for a seat in Congress2002: Hartlepool voters elect local football team mascot H'Angus the Monkey as mayor | |
| The 44-year-old once arrived at a German presidential reception dressed up as Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. | The 44-year-old once arrived at a German presidential reception dressed up as Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. |
| He is often compared to British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who has gained worldwide fame through his characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno. | He is often compared to British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who has gained worldwide fame through his characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno. |
| Ahead of his new film, he further blurred the lines between fact and fiction by launching the Horst Schlaemmer Party. | Ahead of his new film, he further blurred the lines between fact and fiction by launching the Horst Schlaemmer Party. |
| With his old-fashioned glasses, ratty moustache, grey wig and funny accent, the spoof candidate cuts a distinctive figure ahead of Germany's legislative elections on 27 September. | With his old-fashioned glasses, ratty moustache, grey wig and funny accent, the spoof candidate cuts a distinctive figure ahead of Germany's legislative elections on 27 September. |
| Describing his fake party as "conservative, liberal, left-wing and a bit ecological", Mr Schlaemmer's manifesto includes proposals like securing a 2,500 euro (£2,160) monthly salary for all Germans, public funding for sunbeds and more cash for cosmetic surgery. | Describing his fake party as "conservative, liberal, left-wing and a bit ecological", Mr Schlaemmer's manifesto includes proposals like securing a 2,500 euro (£2,160) monthly salary for all Germans, public funding for sunbeds and more cash for cosmetic surgery. |
| Kerkeling's new movie, Isch Kandidiere (I Candidate), was released in cinemas this week and is expected to be a major late-summer hit. | Kerkeling's new movie, Isch Kandidiere (I Candidate), was released in cinemas this week and is expected to be a major late-summer hit. |
| Schlaemmer is an alternative to your usual grey-suited politician in Germany Gero NeugebauerFree University in Berlin | |
| The film tells the story of Horst Schlaemmer, the unhappy deputy editor of a local paper in a grey city, who decides to run for chancellor. | The film tells the story of Horst Schlaemmer, the unhappy deputy editor of a local paper in a grey city, who decides to run for chancellor. |
| After running an eclectic campaign, he finally gathers a small 0.4% of the votes. | After running an eclectic campaign, he finally gathers a small 0.4% of the votes. |
| But in a real-life poll conducted last week for the German newspaper Stern, no fewer than 18% of Germans indicated they would vote for Horst Schlaemmer if he were to stand in next month's parliamentary elections. | But in a real-life poll conducted last week for the German newspaper Stern, no fewer than 18% of Germans indicated they would vote for Horst Schlaemmer if he were to stand in next month's parliamentary elections. |
| By injecting a dose of humour into the German political race, Mr Schlaemmer has boosted interest in an otherwise grey campaign, analysts say. | By injecting a dose of humour into the German political race, Mr Schlaemmer has boosted interest in an otherwise grey campaign, analysts say. |
| "Schlaemmer is an alternative to your usual grey-suited politician in Germany," Gero Neugebauer, a political scientist at the Free University in Berlin, told AFP news agency. | "Schlaemmer is an alternative to your usual grey-suited politician in Germany," Gero Neugebauer, a political scientist at the Free University in Berlin, told AFP news agency. |
| "The boring campaign makes Schlaemmer more interesting." | "The boring campaign makes Schlaemmer more interesting." |