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Bundestag President Schäuble
Photo: Britta Pedersen / dpa
Visitors had harassed, molested, filmed and insulted MPs in the hallways of the Reichstag building on Wednesday.
Apparently these were guests of AfD politicians.
The case could now have consequences.
Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble is apparently considering legal steps against those involved.
At least that's what the dpa news agency reports, citing a letter from the CDU politician to all MPs.
He asked the administration "to examine all legal possibilities to take action against the perpetrators and those who gave them access to the properties of the Bundestag," it says.
On the day of the Bundestag debate on the Infection Protection Act, Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) and the FDP domestic politician Konstantin Kuhle were addressed in the Reichstag.
Former SPD chancellor candidate Martin Schulz also reports on such an encounter.
A security report by the Bundestag police shows that the four visitors were invited by the three AfD MPs Udo Hemmelgarn, Petr Bystron and Hansjörg Müller.
Current hour on the incidents
According to the report, Schäuble rated the events as “serious incidents” and wrote: “They have sparked a variety of fears and fears among colleagues and employees and can create an atmosphere that opposes free and open discussion.
We cannot allow that in the German Bundestag. "
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Police operation against a rally in Berlin riddled with rights and corona deniers
Photo: Fabian Sommer / dpa
This Friday, the Bundestag will deal with the incidents in a current hour.
It was requested by the CDU / CSU and the SPD.
"We can't just go back to the agenda," said SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
In the current hour it must be made clear "that we are ready and able to protect our democracy and parliamentary work".
Bundestag Vice-President Petra Pau (left) told the Funke-Blätter: "I consider it an unprecedented process how the integrity of the Bundestag and the individual members of the Bundestag has been attacked."
According to its First Parliamentary Managing Director Marco Buschmann, the FDP parliamentary group is checking whether a criminal complaint against the host AfD MPs is possible.
»The AfD is abusing the Bundestag as a stage to scorn parliamentarism and liberal democracy.
It is a strategic concern of her to make our democratic institutions inoperable. «Her behavior has now reached a new, scandalous quality.
"This unheard of taboo break is no trivial offense," said Buschmann.
"Attack on Parliament"
Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) told the “Passauer Neue Presse”: “That was an attack on parliament.” In 30 years as a parliamentarian, he had not experienced anything like this.
"We are considering whether in future we can not also sanction members of the Bundestag who deliberately violate the house rules," said Kubicki of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
The AfD MP Kay Gottschalk spoke of "unsightly pictures".
"I think the parliamentary group will pursue education on a sustainable basis, we have to do that too," he said on Thursday evening in the ZDF "heute-journal".
A special parliamentary group meeting has already been scheduled for Friday morning.
He also recalled an incident in July when supporters of the Extinction Rebellion environmental protection movement in the Bundestag threw leaflets into the western lobby.
"I'm not interested in justifying anything here, but then I also have to take a closer look, also at other processes that we've already had," said Gottschalk.
The AfD MP Hansjörg Müller mentioned in the report of the Bundestag police said on Thursday evening that he had not smuggled any troublemakers into the Bundestag.
He had invited registered guests to the Bundestag "who of course obeyed the rules."
"When they entered, a blogger without my knowledge also got access to my office, which I only found out on the evening of November 19," he said.
"This blogger wasn't aggressive about anyone."
AfD rejects guilt
The AfD parliamentary group chairmen Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland had said with a view to the harassment of Altmaier recorded on video: »We regret the unacceptable behavior.
At no time did the AfD parliamentary group invite guests to the Bundestag with the aim of disrupting the parliamentary process or hindering MPs from exercising their mandate. "
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak spoke of a "taboo break": "AfD MPs have smuggled troublemakers into the house in order to intimidate and expose politicians," he said, "Zeit Online."
»Once again it becomes clear: The AfD does not accept the parliamentary rules.
These people have nothing but contempt for our parliamentary democracy. "He called for a" revolt of the decent ".
“All democratic parties must stand together.
Together we must prevent hatred and agitation from determining the election year 2021. "
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kev / dpa
