Berlin, 26 October, 2021 – The German Bundestag was officially opened by Gregor Gysi of the Left Party, at the age of 77, after Alexander Gauland of the AfD was initially expected to take the role due to his seniority. This change in plans occurred after the Bundestag members rejected an AfD proposal to change the order of precedence in the chamber.
In his opening speech, Gysi, who described himself as a representative of a minority, touched on the topic of Russia’s “aggressive war” in Ukraine, stating that the NATO and the German military must be capable of deterring Russia from attacking European countries. He also emphasized the need to learn from Germany’s history in the 20th century, including the importance of remembering the Holocaust and the need for the country to support Israel.
Gysi also addressed the topic of education, suggesting the establishment of a commission to investigate the Corona pandemic measures, as well as the need for equal access to education, art and sports, regardless of financial background. He proposed a cooperation agreement in the field of education, rather than a ban, to ensure the comparability of school certificates across the country.
The politician also discussed the topic of migration, suggesting the admission of 400,000 skilled workers and proposed the establishment of cross-party committees in the Bundestag to address issues such as the security of the pension system, tax fairness and the reduction of bureaucracy.
In his speech, Gysi also touched on international politics, expressing respect for the decision of the US people in the recent election, but warning that the plans of the new US president could lead to the collapse of the Western alliance. He suggested supporting Denmark in the event of a conflict, but also stated that this would mean the end of the NATO.
Finally, Gysi proposed making May 8, the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, a national holiday and also expressed his support for a permanent regulation in this regard.