Police Called as AfD MPs Wave German Flag in Parliament
Federal police confronted Alternative for Germany lawmakers in the Bundestag for waving the German flag at protesters demanding Chancellor Merz's resignation, but withdrew without action.
On Monday, as several thousand demonstrators marched through Berlin’s government quarter demanding the chancellor step down, multiple AfD members of parliament and their staff waved to the crowd from a balcony of the Bundestag office building. Among those present were Beatrix von Storch, Stefan Keuter, and Pierre Lamely, who held and waved a large black-red-gold German flag as protesters below carried similar national banners.
Keuter was captured on video joining in the chant calling for Merz to go, footage that Lamely later posted to social media. Shortly afterward, armed federal police appeared on the balcony and informed the surprised lawmakers they had been sent up because of the German flag. The officers did not clarify whether the order came from Bundestag President Julia Klöckner of the CDU or one of the vice presidents.
The police demanded that the AfD representatives stop displaying or waving the black-red-gold flag. When Keuter asked what the problem was with showing the German flag, one officer responded that there was suspicion it violated house rules. The AfD lawmaker immediately pointed to the German flag flying atop the Reichstag building itself. The officer stated the matter was still being clarified.
The police then withdrew without taking any action. The lawmakers treated the incident with bemusement, and von Storch waved the large flag even more demonstratively after the officers left. She also pointed out that a rainbow flag was hanging in a window of an office across the way, remarking that they would wait to see whether that flag would be removed or whether they would be forced to take down the German flag.
Demonstration Draws Smaller Crowd Than Expected
The demonstration, organized under the name “Projekt M1llion,” drew approximately two thousand participants according to police estimates, despite organizers registering for ten thousand. Initiator Marcel Baldauf from Saxony had hoped to mobilize one million people for the rally in Berlin. The main gathering took place in the afternoon in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Beyond demanding the resignation of the federal government, protesters called for the introduction of direct democracy modeled on the Swiss system, abolition of the CO₂ tax, a halt to health reform, elimination of the mandatory broadcast fee, and strict personal liability for politicians.
Keuter later said the officers beat a quiet retreat, while von Storch noted that while they were still reviewing the situation, she believed they were somewhat embarrassed by the assignment.
With information from Junge Freiheit
