Green Party politician Cem Özdemir celebrated his 60th birthday on December 21 with prominent guests, including rapper Haftbefehl. The musician, known for his Netflix documentary on drug addiction, impressed Özdemir with his modesty. Özdemir is running as the top candidate for Minister President of Baden-Württemberg in 2026.
Cem Özdemir, who turned 60 on December 21, received visits from a variety of guests from politics and society for his birthday. Among them was rapper Haftbefehl, whose real name is Aykut Anhan and who is considered one of the biggest stars in the German rap scene. An Instagram photo by FDP politician Murat Kalmis shows Özdemir and Kalmis together with Haftbefehl. Özdemir commented underneath: "Hammer Abend, es war mir eine Freude" ("Great evening, it was a pleasure").
Özdemir met the musician recently through a mutual friend. "It touched me deeply that he and his wife came to my birthday party to toast with me," he said. The politician was particularly impressed by Haftbefehl's "quiet strength and modesty." Haftbefehl appeared with a mask over his face, possibly to conceal traces of his former drug use.
The rapper recently gained significant attention through the Netflix documentary "Babo – Die Haftbefehl-Story." Released in October 2025, the film candidly explores his life, rise in the music scene, mental health issues, and severe drug addiction that nearly cost him his life. Özdemir's children urged him to watch the documentary. He responded: "The documentary shows in a heart-wrenching and deeply human way the relationship between trauma and addiction – and the destructive consequences of drug use: How the search for an escape from the unbearable can ultimately intensify the suffering one actually wants to numb."
Following the release, Haftbefehl gave his first concerts in November 2025, where he announced he was clean. Özdemir made no comments on Haftbefehl's music. The Green Party politician is nominated as the top candidate for the Baden-Württemberg state election on March 8, 2026, to succeed Winfried Kretschmann as Minister President.
