Last Friday, Sigmar Gabriel gave a group of far-right hecklers the middle finger. They had been disrupting his campaign rally with shouts and placards.
My first reaction was: “That’s not the right way to respond. A politician of his standing shouldn’t stoop to that level.” But then I asked myself—is that really true? Is a gesture like that ever justified?
After thinking about it, I came to a different conclusion: yes, it can be justified—even for the chairman of the SPD.
Emotion Versus Argument
Of course, flipping the middle finger is no way to engage in political debate. Critics deserve to be answered with facts, reasoning, and calm rhetoric—not vulgar gestures. In an ideal democracy, every confrontation should be resolved with arguments, not hand signs.
But reality is messier. Gabriel is not just a party leader; he’s a human being. And like many public figures, he is almost daily insulted, shouted at, spat on, and even threatened by extremist groups. Expecting constant calmness, composure, and saintlike restraint in such situations is asking for the impossible.
The Context Matters
The group confronting him wasn’t seeking debate. These weren’t ordinary citizens with legitimate concerns. They were demonstrators aligned with the NPD, a far-right party known for its hate-filled rhetoric. They weren’t there to discuss policy. They were there to intimidate.
When someone screams “traitor to the people” at you, the situation is no longer about rational political exchange. It’s about raw aggression, about trying to provoke fear.
And in that context, Gabriel’s gesture wasn’t an argument—it was a signal.
A Signal of Defiance
Showing the middle finger may not be refined, but it showed strength. It showed that he refused to be cowed by masks, threats, and shouted slurs. It told them: “I am not afraid of you.”
In moments like that, an emotional reaction can be more powerful than yet another fact-based response that the other side never intended to hear anyway.
So yes—while it may not look elegant, I believe it was legitimate. Gabriel’s middle finger wasn’t the collapse of political culture. It was a very human reminder that even politicians have limits—and the right to push back when hate crosses the line.
