Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) has sharply criticised the conduct of lawmakers from the AfD and Left Party in the German parliament. “This is escalating to such an extent,” Klöckner said, according to comments published on Tuesday in the Funke Media Group podcast Meine schwerste Entscheidung (“My Most Difficult Decision”).
“The two parliamentary groups have by far the most calls to order. The AfD has the most, but the Left Party is catching up. And we have to be careful about this polarisation.”
Klöckner warned that she could take a tougher approach if the situation escalates. “If it escalates, I will throw the entire parliamentary group out. I have that instrument as president,” the Bundestag president said. “Because we have to ensure one thing: that the plenary debate can take place. And if a parliamentary group systematically says, ‘We will disrupt this until the other side can no longer be heard,’ then it is my job to lead the proceedings.”
Klöckner added: “We are the House and we have rules. And we also have a role-model function in how we discuss things with one another, and we have to insist on that.”
With regard to the two parliamentary groups, Klöckner also criticised lawmakers for deliberately delivering their speeches for audiences on their online channels instead of contributing to the debate in parliament. “This leads to real performances, where speeches are simply read out even though they have nothing to do with what the previous speaker said,” the CDU politician said. She described this as “a bad habit.”
The Bundestag president expressed concern about the consequences of the changing culture of debate in parliament. “It can certainly get heated at times,” she said. “But when the focus is on tearing people down rather than discussion, when it is not the argument but the person who is attacked, then I think it becomes dangerous.”
In such circumstances, she said, compromise is no longer possible.
However, Klöckner said she was not worried that the situation in the Bundestag was getting out of her control. “If I were afraid, then I would have to give up my job,” she said.
She added that she reprimands all parliamentary groups and, if necessary, the federal government as well if the government is not sufficiently represented on the government benches during debates. “Everyone gets called out at some point if they do not follow the rules,” Klöckner said. “That is the basis for restoring trust in us as an institution, at least the first step.”
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
