Julia Klöckner, the President of the Bundestag and a member of the CDU, sharply criticized the conduct of deputies from the AfD and Linke factions during plenary sessions. Speaking to the Funke media group, Klöckner noted the escalating tension, stating that “it is getting so intensely heated.” She highlighted that these two groups were responsible for the vast majority of orders for silence, with the AfD leading the count, closely followed by the Linke. She stressed the necessity of managing this growing political polarization.
Klöckner warned of taking a firm stance, asserting that if the situation deteriorated, she possessed the authority as Parliament’s head to expel the entire faction. She emphasized that her primary duty was to ensure that the plenary debates could take place. Furthermore, she stated that if a faction systematically disrupted proceedings to the point where the opposing side could not be heard, it would become her responsibility to guide the resolution. The CDU politician added, “We are the high house, and we have rules. We also set an example for how we discuss things, and we must demand that.”
Beyond the level of disruption, Klöckner criticized both factions for transforming their parliamentary speeches into content for their social media channels, rather than utilizing them to contribute to the parliamentary debate. She observed, “This leads to genuine staging; speeches are simply read off, and they have nothing to do with the original speaker.” She deemed this practice “uncivil.”
The Bundestag President expressed concern over the consequences of this changing debate culture within the parliament. While acknowledging that discussions can be heated, she warned that when “dismantling replaces discussion” and the person is attacked rather than the argument, it becomes dangerous and makes compromise impossible.
Despite these anxieties regarding the development of the Bundestag, Klöckner maintained that she was not worried about the situation spiralling out of control. She stated that if she had any such fears, she would resign her post. She urged all factions, including the government, to adhere to the regulations, noting that every participant must face consequences if they fail to do so. For Klöckner, this adherence to rules was the fundamental first step toward restoring trust in the body as an institution.
