Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner defends removal of Linken lawmaker Marcel Bauer for refusing to remove his Basque cap
Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner (CDU) has defended the expulsion of Linken lawmaker Marcel Bauer who refused to remove his Basque cap in the parliament.
In a statement on her social media profiles, Klöckner wrote, “It is not appropriate to sit in the parliament, the High House, with a cap on.” She further added, “And it does not conform to established customs. Hats, caps and caps are removed upon entering the plenary hall.”
Klöckner first requested the parliamentary secretary of the Left Party to clarify the matter internally. However, she stated that they would not tolerate the persistent refusal to remove the cap in the parliament. Therefore, she allowed Bauer to either remove the cap or leave the chamber. As Bauer later returned to the plenary session, he was removed from the chamber by the deputy president Andrea Lindholz (CSU) and his appeal was rejected by the majority of the parliament.
Klöckner explained, “On the one hand, customs and unwritten rules apply, which relate to the manner of interaction and the dignity of the House. On the other hand, what sitting-presidents in the Bundestag order applies.” She pointed out that the Bundestag’s house rules do not mention head coverings and only one place in the rules addresses visitors, stating that attire and behavior must be in line with the dignity of the House.