While initially considering retirement, Ramelow indicated he was persuaded by fellow party member Gregor Gysi to remain involved, referencing Gysi’s recent election campaign initiative, “Mission Silberlocke” (Silver Hair Mission) This campaign aimed to secure direct mandates for Gysi, Ramelow and Dietmar Bartsch to ensure the Left party could maintain representation in the Bundestag even if it fell below the five percent threshold required for proportional representation
Ramelow also discussed the significant public reaction to his proposal for a parliamentary vote on the symbolism of the German flag and national anthem He revealed he received substantial criticism – what he described as “the biggest shitstorm of my life” – despite affirming his support for the flag itself Ramelow explained his intent was to initiate a broader public discussion on national symbols, fearing a rise in the display of alternative or historically problematic flags, such as inverted German flags or symbols associated with far-right extremist groups and the Reichsbürger movement, if the topic remains unaddressed
The veteran politician also expressed concern over the increasingly contentious atmosphere within the Bundestag, attributing a noticeable coarsening of debate to the increased presence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) faction following the last election Ramelow characterized the disruptions and provocative interjections as hindering constructive dialogue, prioritizing self-promotion over genuine debate
