Bundestag Bars Another AfD Staffer Without Clear Reason
A staff member of AfD lawmaker Peter Bohnhof has been denied Bundestag access, marking the eighth time Alternative for Germany employees have been barred from parliament this term.
According to Junge Freiheit, the affected individual was refused both a building pass and access to the parliament’s IT system. A spokesman for the Bundestag administration told news portal Politico on Monday that there were “actual and concrete indications” that the person in question pursues unconstitutional activities that could endanger “the functionality and working capacity of the German Bundestag and the security of members of parliament.” No further details were provided.
Notably, staff members of other parties have not been subjected to similar access restrictions during this legislative term.
Islamic Criticism Cited in Previous Case
In late January, it became public that Michael Stürzenberger, an Islam-critical commentator working for Bavarian AfD Member of Parliament Erhard Brucker, had also been affected by such measures. Stürzenberger was convicted by the Hamburg Regional Court in 2024 and fined 3,600 euros for incitement to hatred over statements critical of Islam. The court ruled his assertion that political Islam seeks to “bring women under control” violated German law.
Ramelow Defends Access Restrictions
Bodo Ramelow, acting Vice President of the German Bundestag and member of the Left Party, defended the administration’s approach in comments to Politico. Ramelow emphasized that the issue was not about membership in a particular party, but rather whether staff members were reliable enough to use computers in the parliament building. He insisted the process follows “rule-of-law principles” and noted that those affected have the option to appeal the decisions.
AfD Prepares Legal Challenge
Bernd Baumann, Parliamentary Managing Director of the AfD parliamentary group, initiated legal action in February against Bundestag President Julia Klöckner of the CDU to force the issuance of building passes for AfD staff members.
The repeated targeting of AfD employees for access restrictions, with no comparable measures against staff of other parties, has raised questions about political discrimination within Germany’s legislative institutions.
With information from Junge Freiheit
