Address in Federal Assembly - BSW abstains from Selenskyj's speech; AfD suggests a similar action.
The German Far-Right party AfD has advised its MPs to boycott Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech in the Bundestag this afternoon. This news stems from unnamed parliamentary sources reported by the German Press Agency. MPs still have the option to decide whether or not to attend the event. Prior to the speech, there will be a meeting among AfD MPs to discuss their course of action.
The Left Alliance (Die Linke) has also announced that it will not be present during Zelensky's talk. Earlier reports from "t-online" disclosed this information. A selected statement from the Left Alliance reads, "President Zelensky is regrettably involved in increasing the risk of nuclear conflict at this time. He should not be rewarded with a special event in the German Parliament. This would imply unreserved endorsement of his policy, which we cannot condone."
Zelensky to Speak at the Bundestag for the First Time in person
Tight security measures have been deployed due to the arrival and planned speech at the Bundestag. Police patrol boats in the Spree and police dogs have been used to search the plenary hall. Today is Zelensky's first in-person address to the German Parliament. Earlier, he had addressed the public via video conferences.
Greens parliamentary leader Britta Haßelmann joked about a recent comment by Sahra Wagenknecht's party. "It's astonishing that Sahra Wagenknecht wants to return today," Haßelmann quipped in Berlin. Wagenknecht has one of the most irregular presences in parliament. "It's the responsibility of an MP to be active in the Bundestag. For that, you receive an MP's allowance and travel expenses, and citizens anticipate your presence," Haßelmann added. On the Green Party's perspective, Haßelmann divulged, "I find it a great honor that Zelensky is speaking in the German Bundestag today. We are eager to hear his words."
Berlin left-wing politician Dietmar Bartsch sharply condemned the stance of his former colleague Sahra Wagenknecht. Bartsch termed her conduct "unfathomable": Irrespective of one's stance on Zelensky or weapons supplies, in a democracy one should at least listen, rather than acting for attention. "Listening forms the foundation of a democracy," Bartsch told DPA. He recollected that Wagenknecht had refused to rise after Israeli state president Shimon Peres delivered a speech in the Bundestag in 2010.
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The AfD's suggestion to boycott Volodymyr Zelensky's speech in the Bundestag has sparked controversy, with some viewing it as a lack of support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflicts with Russia. Britta Haßelmann, the Greens parliamentary leader, has expressed her excitement about Zelensky's visit, emphasizing the importance of MPs being present in the Bundestag. Meanwhile, Sahra Wagenknecht's decision to not attend has been criticized by Berlin left-wing politician Dietmar Bartsch, who argued that listening should be a fundamental part of democracy, even if one disagrees with the speaker's stance. The German Press Agency has reported that the Left Alliance, like the AfD, will also abstain from Zelensky's speech. These actions in the Bundestag are being closely watched, with many looking to Germany's role in resolving international conflicts, particularly those involving Ukraine and Russia.
