The rainbow flag ignites intense debate among lawmakers in the German parliament, leading to the police being called.
The decision by the President of the German Parliament, "Julia Klöckner", to prohibit the raising of the rainbow flag on the Bundestag building during the "Christopher Street Day" event on July 26 sparked widespread anger and criticism, as it was seen as an indirect targeting of the LGBTQ+ community within the parliament.
The newspaper "Tagesspiegel" revealed that MPs were asked to remove any symbols related to the rainbow flag from their offices, in a move that some considered an unjustified overreach. MP "Lina Seitzl" from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) explained that Klöckner relied on an internal regulation that prohibits placing any stickers or slogans on doors, walls, or windows in public parliamentary buildings, especially if visible from the outside. Nevertheless, Seitzl described the measures as a "witch hunt against rainbow flags," considering this strictness unprecedented.
The controversy peaked with what MP "Stella Merindino" from the Left Party (die Linke) posted on Instagram, where she said that the parliamentary police were called due to her hanging a rainbow flag on her desk, also noting that the police requested the removal of a small colored heart sticker from her office door. She attached a video documenting the incident to her post.
For its part, Klöckner confirmed through her office that the implementation of the instructions was part of a "routine procedure," emphasizing that the ban does not specifically target the rainbow flag, but includes all logos and symbols that violate the regulations.
But the tone of concern escalated with the statement from "Nieke Slavic" of the "Bündnis 90/Die Grünen" party, where she said that the winds inside the parliament have changed, and there is a clear trend to hide symbols of diversity. She pointed out that even a picture of her inside the Bundestag with a rainbow flag was not allowed.