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Bärbel Bas, President of the German Bundestag
Photo: Britta Pedersen / dpa
After the "Reichsbürger" raid, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas expects stricter security measures in Parliament.
"I don't want to go into detail now, but I assume that we will tighten the house rules and the rules of access and behavior again," said the SPD politician to the German Press Agency in Berlin.
At the same time, she emphasized that the security of the MPs and the employees was given.
'No one needs to worry here.
The security of the house was guaranteed at all times.
I value that.«
A few days ago, the security authorities arrested 25 suspected “Reich citizens” in a raid.
22 of them are accused of being members of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system.
Former AfD member of parliament Birgit Malsack-Winkemann was also arrested.
According to the federal prosecutor, members of the right-wing network had planned to force a small armed group into the Bundestag.
More police and everyone has to go through security
Bas said talks are currently underway with the security officers of the factions.
These had discussed various measures, which should be decided at the beginning of the coming year.
"It is almost impossible to get into the properties of the Bundestag with weapons," Bas emphasized at the same time.
"We already tightened the measures after the incidents on the stairs of the Reichstag building in August 2020.
Since then, they have been continuously adapted.« Among other things, there is now more police presence in the corridors of the house.
And former MPs who have a so-called former ID card would now have to go through the security checkpoint like other guests to enter the Bundestag building.
“We have also tightened the rules for MPs' guests.
These must also be registered and will be checked.
And they too have to go through security.”
The President of the Bundestag refuses to completely exclude guests.
»My message is: The German Bundestag must remain an open house.
It is important to me that visitors can continue to experience the Bundestag as the heart of our open democracy.
That's why people are still very welcome to us.« The direct exchange between the members of parliament and the local citizens is »a great asset«.
Gap between AfD and other factions even bigger
The SPD politician criticizes the fact that the AfD downplays the coup plans as a “walker putsch”.
“I think there is a danger here that we must take very seriously.
To what extent the group would have been able to implement their plan is another question.
But I don't want to belittle that.« Bas pointed out that many MPs experienced threats and hostilities, especially after speeches in plenary.
»Personally, I am also regularly affected by it.
It's already increased."
Bas can imagine that the gap between the AfD and the other factions will now widen again.
"The question is whether there are actually connections between the 'Reichsbürger' scene and the AfD parliamentary group." She assumes that the authorities are currently investigating this.
"But I call on all factions to show moderation and respect for the culture of debate in the plenary hall."
czl/dpa