Harald Schmidt was on a flying visit to the Zurich Bernhard Theater, where he philosophized and discussed the world with theater director Hanna Scheuring. SRF packed the opportunity at the Shopf and asked the cabaret artist and satirist the most pressing questions of the current time.
Harald Schmidt
cabaret artist
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In 40 career years, Harald Schmidt worked as an actor, cabaret artist, columnist, entertainer and moderator. With his daily late night show, the “Harald Schmidt Show”, he wrote in the era of German private broadcast history. From 1995 to 2014 the program was broadcast on Sat.1, ARD and most recently on Sky. He has been touring the German -speaking area for ten years and speaks on stages on current topics and what moves people.
SRF news: Friedrich Merz did not make it in the first ballot. Did she surprise that?
Harald Schmidt: I suspected that it might be scarce. We must never forget, there is the old characteristics of envy, resentment, revenge and insult. Perhaps some of them refused to do so. But in the end there was no big reason for excitement, because the whole thing was only shifted by a few hours.
There is too much going on in the world to deal with two electoral groups longer.
Will this now throw a shadow on his chancellorship?
I think it is more like this: If Friedrich Merz really parks right at the next opportunity, despite the bad start, you will say that he is a terrific Chancellor. But there is too much going on in the world to deal with two electoral courses longer.
-I worried more about the Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who is only in her mid -40s and is already prone to a certain level.
Friedrich Merz is two years older than her, he is 69 years old. How does he get through all of this?
I think he is driven by the ambition to really want to be Chancellor. He was also rejected three times by his own party as party leader. He has great tender qualities that helps. I worried more about the Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who is only in her mid -40s and is already prone to a certain level. Then I think to myself: This hasty, quick food among the politicians, sometimes quickly a pizza piece on the way or sweets at a conference – that is unhealthy. I hope that he doesn’t just make it sneaking onto the government bank.
They are Catholic and today the pope election begins with the conclave in the Sistine chapel. Are you excited?
I think that’s great. You also have to say that the Sistine chapel, for example, would no longer have been possible under an SPD Minister of Labor, because Michelangelo was over 70 years old and was on the back on the scaffold for ten hours at a height of twelve meters to paint the ceiling of the chapel. An employee representative would certainly come today and say: «That is not possible. Someone that we want to integrate must do that into Sistine Society. »
They grew up in a Catholic family and were church musicians. Have you already thought about leaving the church?
No, and I also pay church tax out of the deepest conviction, because I always want my Pope, for example, if he flies to Castel Gandolfo, for example, in the white helicopter directly from the Vatican gardens.
So you like this pomp in the Vatican with the finest cardinal robes?
Yes, because otherwise I could be evangelical.
The conversation was conducted by David Karasek.
