FDP parliamentary group leader Konstantin Kuhle calls for examination of access to the Bundestag for ex

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Konstantin Kuhle (FDP): "It would be unbearable if former AfD MPs allowed such attacks through access to parliament."

Photo: IMAGO/Christian Spicker

After the recent arrests in the "Reichsbürger" scene, FDP parliamentary group leader Konstantin Kuhle has called for a review of access authorization to the Bundestag for all former AfD MPs.

"The events surrounding the former AfD MP Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, who was arrested on Wednesday because of her possible involvement in terrorist plans, make it necessary to re-examine the access for former AfD MPs," said the domestic politician of the dpa news agency.

Check new findings from the security authorities

Kuhle suggested that the Bundestag administration should check in each individual case whether other former AfD MPs had new findings from the security authorities that would indicate a threat to parliament and its properties.

If this is the case, an entry ban must be issued immediately.

The institutions of democracy must be protected from attacks by extremists.

"It would be unbearable if former AfD MPs allowed such attacks by gaining access to parliament."

On Wednesday, the federal prosecutor had 25 people arrested in one of the largest police operations in the history of the Federal Republic in eleven federal states as well as in Italy and Austria.

She accuses 22 of them of being a member of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system, including the Berlin judge and former MP Malsack-Winkemann.

The other three are about support.

The federal prosecutor also spoke of 27 other suspects.

"Reich citizens" are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures.

(Read more about the organization here. )

As a former member of parliament, Malsack-Winkemann had access to the buildings of the Bundestag, like all former members of parliament who wished to do so.

The Bundestag is now debating security in its own home.

After leaving the Bundestag, former Members of Parliament receive an ID card for former members, with which they continue to have access to the properties of the Bundestag.

A statement from the federal prosecutor's office on Wednesday's arrests said: "According to the investigations so far, there is also the suspicion that individual members of the association have made concrete preparations to forcefully invade the German Bundestag with a small armed group."

muk/dpa