Veteran German politician Bodo Ramelow, currently a Vice President of the Bundestag, has announced his intention to step down from parliamentary duties at the next federal election In a recent interview with ARD, Ramelow stated this legislative period will be his last in public service as a party and parliamentary representative
While initially planning retirement, Ramelow indicated he was persuaded to remain involved by a campaign led by fellow Left Party member Gregor Gysi, dubbed “Mission Silverlocke” (“Silver Hair Mission”) This effort aimed to secure direct mandates for Gysi, Ramelow and Dietmar Bartsch, ensuring the party’s continued representation in the Bundestag even if it fell below the five percent threshold required to claim proportional representation through party list votes
Ramelow also discussed the significant public reaction to his proposal for a parliamentary vote on the German flag and national anthem He described receiving a substantial amount of criticism, but clarified that his motivation stemmed from a desire to encourage public discourse on national symbols He expressed concern that a lack of open discussion could lead to the increasing display of controversial or extremist flags, particularly by far-right and Reichsbürger groups
The experienced politician also commented on the increasingly tense atmosphere within the Bundestag itself Ramelow noted a significant coarsening of debate following the recent gains made by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party He described a problematic environment characterized by disruptive interjections and provocative behavior, hindering constructive dialogue and serving primarily as a platform for self-promotion