Bodo Ramelow feels misunderstood when it comes to flag and hymn question

Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow was surprised to the debate about his statements about the Germany flag and the national anthem. “There is a reason why we have black-red gold and it is worth defending black-red-gold,” said the left-wing politician of the dpa news agency. It is the colors of freedom. The national anthem, the third stanza of the “song of the Germans” by the poet August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, is very convinced.

Ramelow confirmed his idea of ​​a vote on anthem and flag that he had previously brought up. This should happen as part of a referendum on a constitution that could replace the Basic Law. In Article 146, the Basic Law provides this possibility explicitly. Ramelow received a lot of criticism for his statements. However, he feels misunderstood.

Thuringia’s former Prime Minister now emphasized that he had never called for the abolition of the flag and anthem. However, there are people who strange with the flag, so it is important in his view to have it voted on. He himself would vote for black-red gold. (Read here how black-red gold the colors of the Federal Republic became.)

Ramelow said to the hymn: “I can imagine coordinating the third stanza.” A possible alternative is Bertolt Brecht’s children’s anthem. “That would be worth thinking about it.” (Read here what is behind the “children’s anthem”.)

The German national anthem is the third stanza of the “song of the Germans” (“unity and law and freedom”). At the turn, there was a proposal to choose the “children’s anthem” by Bertolt Brecht as a national anthem for reunited Germany.