A disconcerting incident has occurred within the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. State parliament president Muhterem Aras (of the Green Party) revealed during a session on Thursday afternoon that a ballot paper was marked with a swastika by one of the members.
The revelation prompted immediate reactions, particularly from political figures outside the Baden-Württemberg parliament. Former state parliament member and current member of the federal parliament, Hans-Jürgen Goßner (of the AfD), expressed shock and condemnation via social media, describing the action as “incomprehensibly base.
The Baden-Württemberg state parliament comprises 154 elected representatives. Currently, the Green Party holds 57 seats, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) possesses 43, forming the governing coalition. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) holds 19 seats, the Free Democratic Party / German Conservative Party accounts for 18 and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds 17. Further investigation into the incident and potential consequences is anticipated.