Bundestag: “moderate appearance” – AfD parliamentary group plans behavioral code

The AfD in the Bundestag wants to be rules of conduct. At a closed conference of the parliamentary group at the weekend in Berlin, a code of conduct for MPs and an agreement on behavior in the Bundestag plenum should be adopted, the German Press Agency found out.

In a dpa available design on the code of conduct, it says: “The members strive for a closed and moderate appearance in parliament to ensure the political ability to act and credibility of the faction.” In addition, “rules for the prevention of bribery” and “exclusion of conflicts of interest” are also planned.

Interjections expressly welcome

In an also available draft for an agreement with the title “Principles for the behavior at plenary sessions”, for example, reference is made to adequate clothing. Interjections, it continues, were part of the democratic dispute in the plenum and are even expressly desired.

Specific requirements for the tone in speeches or interjections are not made in this document – which could also change, since the paper is initially a design.

Party chief Chrupalla for moderate tones

Co-party and parliamentary group leader Tino Chrupalla had said at Deutschlandfunk at the end of April, if one wanted to convince more voters, the responsibility is also increasing. In the future there will be a different tone on the part of the AfD at a parliamentary level. This was recorded as a request for moderation. “A distinction should be made between a Bundestag speech and, for example, a demo speech,” said Chrupalla.

The tone in parliament had become rougher in recent years. According to an overview of the Bundestag, the number of orders in the plenary in the last legislative period had increased significantly from 47 to 135 compared to the legislative period before. At the top of the statistics, the AfD faction lies, Bärbel Bas (SPD) – then Bundestag president – said in the spring.