GREGOR GYSI - Auf eine Currywurst mit Gregor Gysi
An autobiographical look behind the scenes of political operations.
Gregor Gysi – as open and personal as never before.
Gregor Gysi tells and recites from "A Life is Too Little. The Autobiography." and presents his current books "What Politicians Don't Say..." and "Auf eine Currywurst mit Gregor Gysi." In "What Politicians Don't Say..." – with the apt subtitle "...because it’s about majorities and not about truths!" – he explains how communication works in the political arena, why members of parliament are not selected based on professionalism, what time limits apply in the Bundestag, why he primarily addresses viewers in talk shows rather than fellow discussants. For years, Hans-Dieter Schütt has accompanied Gregor Gysi at his book events, resulting in numerous conversations that are compiled in "Auf eine Currywurst mit Gregor Gysi." In the short interviews at the snack stand, the lawyer and politician shows himself to be witty, wise, and more open and personal than ever. In the exclusive interview book, Gysi and Schütt discuss speaking and silence, the future of the Left Party, and writing books.
Gregor Gysi offers a rich, anecdotal view behind the scenes of political operations and recounts his numerous lives as a lawyer, politician, author, and moderator, and – not least – as a family man. A life and family history that spans from Russia to Rhodesia and includes everyday court dealings with murderers and thieves, along with a praise of Lenin and Nobel laureate Doris Lessing. The evening will be hosted by moderator Hans-Dieter Schütt, who will also address current political issues.
Gregor Gysi, born in 1948, lawyer and politician. Represented, among others, Robert Havemann, Rudolf Bahro, and other regime critics as a lawyer. Chairman of the PDS from 1989-1992. From 1990-202 and 2005-2015, he was the parliamentary leader of the PDS and the Left Party. He is still a member of the Bundestag. From December 2016 to December 2019, he was president of the Party of the European Left. In 2020, he was appointed foreign policy spokesperson of the Left Party in the Bundestag and resigned from his position in September 2023. Like few other German politicians, Gregor Gysi was vilified and insulted by his political opponents. And few have responded as cleverly, purposefully, and successfully to the dense thicket of hostilities as he: Gregor Gysi. Today, he is one of Germany's most popular politicians, transcending all party boundaries. Gregor Gysi has shaped leftist thinking, becoming one of its key protagonists, achieving recognized prominence. His autobiography is a book of history and stories that reflect and bring to life the tremors and extremes, the drafts and disappointments of the 20th century in a very personal way. Gregor Gysi recounts his childhood and youth, describes his path to becoming a lawyer, provides insights into his relationship with dissidents and the tensions at the top of the party and parliamentary group. Above all, he reports on the amazing turn his life took since the historic events of autumn 1989. The lawyer becomes a politician: "I never wanted to just run away," Gysi states, touching on a core of his being: endure contradictions!
Hans-Dieter Schütt, born in 1948 in Ohrdruf, studied theater studies in Leipzig, was an editor and editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper "Junge Welt" in the GDR. He has published numerous essays, biographies, and interview books. Among other works, he contributed to Gregor Gysi's autobiography "A Life is Too Little," the book "What Politicians Don't Say," and "Auf eine Currywurst mit Gregor Gysi."
Copyright Joachim Gern
Admission: 6:30 PM