German schlager icon Heino (real name Heinz Georg Kramm) has filed a lawsuit against AfD politician Felix Teichner for using his name in election advertising without consent. The 87-year-old singer is demanding compensation for pain and suffering.

Heino is a veteran of the German music industry, having sold over 55 million records and CDs and recorded 1,200 songs. He is known for his trademark blond side-part and black sunglasses.

Teichner, a little-known regional AfD politician from Brandenburg, posted on social media: "On Sunday, Heino would vote for Felix." Heino's manager called it "an outrage that goes too far."

Teichner signed a cease and desist declaration, but Heino is considering a claim for damages. He has previously spoken out against the AfD and finds it unacceptable for the party to use him for campaign purposes.

Political scientist Niklas Ferch of Justus Liebig University in Giessen believes the scandal will not hurt the AfD among its core voters, but rather reinforce the party's populist narrative of criticizing elites.

Heino has a history of controversy over his song choices. In 1977, he recorded all three verses of the German national anthem, leading to a break with Chancellor Willy Brandt. In 2018, he presented an album containing songs sung by the SS, sparking outrage.

Source: www.dw.com