A dispute has arisen in the German Bundestag regarding the allocation of office space among the parties. The Union faction has refused a request from the AfD (Alternative for Germany) to use the Otto-Wels-Saal, a room previously occupied by the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) faction.
According to Patrick Schnieder, parliamentary business manager of the Union faction, the new strength of the AfD must be taken into account, but there is no automatic right to specific rooms. The AfD has grown from 77 to 152 seats in the Bundestag, while the SPD has shrunk to 120 seats, its worst result since 1949. The AfD therefore requires larger office space than previously.
The Otto-Wels-Saal, however, holds historical significance for the SPD. The room allocation in the Reichstag building typically follows the strength of the factions and the SPD has occupied the same space since its move to Berlin in 1999.
Discussions on the matter will take place between the factions and the Bundestag’s President, with a decision likely to be made in the Ältestenrat, a council of the oldest members of the Bundestag. The new Bundestag is expected to be constituted on March 25.