Tour of the German Parliament - Left-wing party BSW and the majority of AfD (Alternative for Germany) have skipped President Selenskyj's speech.
The majority of AfD parliament members and the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance boycotted a speech in the Bundestag by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The AfD's parliamentary leader had previously encouraged this.
Only four of the 77 AfD MPs attended Zelensky's speech at the plenary session. None of the ten BSW MPs were present. Other party representatives criticized this sternly.
"We have no desire to hear a speaker masquerading as someone else," said AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. "The federal government should not grant him a platform for begging for reconstruction. Taxpayers are spending too much on military aid, EU aid, and welfare for Ukrainians." Ukraine calls for a president who seeks peace. The BSW said, "Unfortunately, President Zelensky contributes to the escalation of a dangerous spiral and risks causing a nuclear conflict with disastrous consequences for all of Europe." He should not be celebrated with a special event in the German Bundestag.
Kremlin allegedly ordered the absence
There was harsh criticism from other parties. SPD deputy Dirk Wiese said to the "Rheinische Post", "Probably the Kremlin commanded the boycott. I have rarely seen such disrespect." The first parliamentary manager of the Union faction, Thorsten Frei (CDU), stated, "With their absence, the AfD and BSW once again demonstrate their contempt for the victims of the Russian attack war."
The Left politician Dietmar Bartsch criticized former alliance member Sahra Wagenknecht for her behavior and called it unacceptable, telling dpa, "Regardless of your perspective on Zelensky or weapons deliveries, in a democracy, it's essential to at least listen and not solely aim for attention."
Merz: Absence of AfD and BSW a low point in Bundestag culture
Union faction leader Friedrich Merz strongly condemned the absence of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance (BSW) and most AfD MPs during Zelensky's speech in the Bundestag. "Of course, one can have various views on aid for Ukraine," said the CDU chairman in Berlin. "However, to disrespect the head of state of a nation facing war as an MP in the German Bundestag is a dismal low point in the culture of our parliament." Merz said he was "deeply shocked" by this.
The four AfD MPs, Norbert Kleinwächter, Joachim Wundrak, Albrecht Glaser, and Rainer Kraft, were the only ones present at the plenary hall and occasionally applauded. "For us, it's standard procedure to listen to other country leaders when they visit," Kleinwächter explained to dpa. "The applause was subdued, at the points where one can find common ground," Wundrak added. No enthusiastic display is visible.
The diplomatic incident drew attention to the contentious political climate in Germany and divided opinions over Ukraine's aid.
Read also:
The absence of Sahra Wagenknecht's alliance and the majority of AfD MPs during Zelensky's speech in the Bundestag was strongly criticized by many, including Friedrich Merz and SPD deputy Dirk Wiese. They viewed it as disrespectful and a low point in Bundestag culture. Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, leaders of the AfD, argued against giving Zelensky a platform for begging for reconstruction and questioned the allocation of funds for military aid, EU aid, and welfare for Ukrainians.
The BSW, on the other hand, accused President Zelensky of contributing to the escalation of conflicts and risking a nuclear war. They believed his presence in the German Bundestag should not be celebrated with a special event. Russia was reportedly believed to have ordered the absence of the AfD and BSW parliament members.
The four AfD MPs who attended the speech, Norbert Kleinwächter, Joachim Wundrak, Albrecht Glaser, and Rainer Kraft, listened attentively but did not offer any enthusiastic displays of support. The incident highlighted the contentious political climate in Germany and fueled varying opinions on Ukraine's aid.
Meanwhile, Germany's Federal Government faced calls to expel severe offenders and clarified its stance on potential Afghan deportations. The year saw a series of climate records, with 'extreme' becoming the new normal, and Hamas urged Israel to honor a truce agreement.
%20have%20skipped%20President%20Selenskyj's%20speech.){kind=link}