Bundestag Member Marcel Bauer Makes Statement Without Wearing Cap to Parliamentary Session
In a symbolic move, German Bundestag member Marcel Bauer, a representative of the Left party, attended a parliamentary session on Wednesday without wearing his cap, which has been a point of contention in recent weeks.
Bauer, a forester from Karlsruhe, was removed from the chamber twice last Thursday for refusing to remove his cap. His appeal against the ejection was rejected by the Bundestag on Friday, with the Left party and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) voting against him.
The Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), had previously weighed in on the issue over the weekend, stating that wearing a cap in the parliament, the “High House” is not acceptable and does not conform to parliamentary customs. According to the house rules, headgear is not explicitly mentioned, but Klöckner emphasized that it is customary to remove headgear upon entering the parliamentary hall.
In an interview, Bauer expressed surprise at the lack of action taken against the AfD, which he claims wears fascist symbols like the cornflower emblem without consequence. He questioned why the wearing of a cap, which he sees as a symbol of his identity, was deemed a more serious offense than the AfD’s use of fascist symbols.