Bavaria's Local Elections: Pharmacist Slams AfD's Campaign Poster
German pharmacist slams AfD for hijacking pharmacy symbol in election push
With posters and slogans, Bavaria's political parties are vying for voters' support ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is also in the mix—advertising on one poster with the iconic red "A" pharmacy symbol. "It makes me furious," says Stefan Niklas, a pharmacist from Bad Reichenhall. He calls it "almost disgusting that we are being associated with them on a poster."
Pharmacist Condemns AfD's Use of Pharmacy Symbol in Election Ad
Niklas owns the Marien Apotheke in Bad Reichenhall. Nearby, a series of campaign posters have recently gone up: the Christian Social Union (CSU) promises to govern "with heart and vigor," the Social Democrats (SPD) emphasize "responsibility in the world," and the Greens ask voters, "What's next?" The Free Voters and Free Democrats (FDP) are also represented with colorful designs.
Instead of featuring a candidate's face, the AfD's poster prominently displays the red pharmacy "A"—taking up nearly half the space—alongside the slogan: "Support local pharmacies!"
The ad has drawn sharp criticism from Niklas, who feels the profession is being exploited. "I'm not particularly political, but with the AfD, it's no longer a joke," he says. "In reality, they probably don't care about local pharmacies at all—it just plays well with their base and fits perfectly with their slogan, 'Honest, conservative, local.' Even if all the other democratic parties have written off local pharmacies and ignore our legitimate demands, I still wouldn't vote for the AfD."
He argues that no other profession would tolerate this kind of appropriation. "Or at the very least, they'd take a clear stand. I called the Bavarian Pharmacists' Association, and after consulting with the German Pharmacists' Association—which holds the rights to the Gothic A—they said there's nothing they can do."
Pharmacist Demands Pushback as Association Stays Silent
Niklas is disappointed by the association's reluctance to act. "They're afraid that speaking out might just give the issue more attention—which, to me, is a weak excuse," he says. According to the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA), the pharmacy "A" may only be used with permission by member pharmacies of the German Pharmacists' Association (DAV). "Management of this trademark is reserved exclusively for the DAV, its member organizations, other professional pharmacy bodies, and the heads of public pharmacies."
In reality, the AfD's Bavarian platform contains almost no mention of pharmacies. And whether the party even understands the regulatory requirements for pharmacies—or their legal separation from other businesses—is questionable, given this line in their program: "We gladly support upgrading village shops as supply hubs with additional services (e.g., banking, postal services, pharmacies)." Under German law, pharmacies cannot merge with other retailers.
Niklas remains frustrated: "If this were any other profession, they'd fight back." For now, the symbol of his livelihood remains on an AfD poster—without his consent.
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