The escalating climate of hostility within the German Bundestag has prompted a stark condemnation from Nina Warken, Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) Women’s Union and Federal Minister of Health. Warken leveled criticism at the Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group, alleging a pattern of abusive and degrading comments directed towards female politicians.
Speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Warken detailed her proximity to the AfD benches in the plenary session, revealing that the documented remarks in official records represent only a fraction of the actual verbal attacks. She characterized the comments as “demeaning and belittling” towards women, extending beyond mere disagreement with their political opinions to encompass criticisms of their appearance and attire. The remarks, she described as “shocking insults” are deemed unacceptable and detrimental to the dignity of the parliamentary process.
Warken’s accusations highlight a concerning trend reflecting a regressive representation of women in German society. She emphasized the crucial need for collective condemnation of such behavior within the Bundestag, advocating for a stance that discourages intimidation and fuels the courage of female parliamentarians. While solidarity among female colleagues has emerged when facing verbal abuse, Warken argues for broader female solidarity to combat hate speech and harassment, both within and beyond the confines of the parliament.
Drawing on her own experiences since assuming leadership of the Women’s Union in May and her parliamentary service since 2018, Warken expressed how the level of personal attacks has escalated significantly. She recounted encountering “blunt” remarks, ranging from criticisms of qualifications and appearance to simple prejudices based on gender. The prevalence of such attacks has led her to cease reading comments on social media, although she acknowledges the enduring impact of particularly egregious instances. Notably, she observed a deterioration in tone and a marked decrease in inhibitions regarding expressions of threats, harassment and insults online – a trend she considers deeply alarming.
The accusations raise serious questions about the AfD’s role in normalizing aggressive and misogynistic rhetoric within German politics and place further scrutiny on the Bundestag’s ability to cultivate a respectful and inclusive environment for its members.