Politics denied Heino the Federal Cross of Merit

By Mark Pittelkau

On December 13th, folk music legend Heino turns 85 years old. On this occasion, his long-time fan Eberhard Kulla (67) proposed the singer (“Black-brown is the hazelnut”) to the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia for the Federal Cross of Merit.

Everything is very formal according to the rules with a list of Heino’s social merits (14 points). AND: Ten advocates, some of them prominent, such as the politicians Wolfgang Bosbach (71, CDU) and Dr. Gregor Gysi (75, Die Linke), the mayor Sabine Preiser-Marian (52, CDU) of his hometown Bad Münstereifel, actor Dieter Hallervorden (88), a renowned pastor and a theology professor.

But Kulla received a tough rejection!

The letter from the State Chancellery states: “We were happy to take up your concern and coordinate with the Federal Presidential Office responsible for the Order of Merit. As a result, I unfortunately have to inform you that the requirements for such a state award are not met. The order process was not initiated.”

Eberhard Kulla doesn’t want to accept that! He protested in another letter to the State Chancellery. In it he writes: “Heino’s contributions to folk song as a cultural asset are undisputed. Likewise his social and charitable commitment.”

Kulla’s accusation: “You didn’t even question the personalities I mentioned, as is required after an official submission. How can the State Chancellery or the Office of the Federal President make an objective decision? So I have to assume that this is an arbitrary or politically motivated decision. Or does the ‘Black List’ really exist?”

BILD asked the Federal President’s Office what speaks against awarding the Federal Cross of Merit to Heino.

Press spokesman Tobias Scheufele: “Order processes are subject to the principle of confidentiality. I therefore ask for your understanding that the Federal President’s Office is fundamentally unable to provide any information regarding medal procedures. This also includes the question of whether a medal examination process has been carried out for a particular person. This will only be announced publicly if the Order of Merit is awarded.”

That’s what Heino says

And what does Heino himself say about the argument? The singer told BILD: “People have been nominating me for the Federal Cross of Merit since the 1970s, but they always hit a wall.”

The cult singer has now come to terms with it.

He says: “There was a time when I would have felt honored to receive the medal, but now I no longer value it. When I see who has received this award in Germany, including convicted tax evaders, I don’t want to have it anymore and put myself on the same level as these people.”