"Plenary Hall is Not a Fashion Statement" - Klöckner Speaks Out on Dress Code in the Bundestag
Klöckner advocates for a modified dress code in the German Parliament
Step aside, catwalk, because the Bundestag's stage isn't for fashion models or DIY decorators. That's the gist of Julia Klöckner's latest statement, as she lays down the (dress) law for members of the German parliament.
Diving right in, Klöckner (Bundestag President) has shared her views on appropriately dressing for a parliamentary setting. "The Bundestag ain't no gym, and it sure as heck ain't a room with walls crying out for a lick of paint," she told the German Press Agency. "We're talking about preserving the dignity here, and you don't want to be mistaken for a fitness enthusiast or an interior decorator."
Klöckner's argument gained traction following the fuss caused by two Left party members sporting a beret and a sweatshirt with a pro-Palestine message. Knocking on the constitutional doors hasn't seemed to register, causing Klöckner to act. "If I let one beret in, we'll soon be having golf caps and steel helmets parading down here," she quipped.
The Left party's sweatshirt transgression wasn't the only breach of parliamentary protocol in sight. "Our rules of procedure make it crystal clear—political debate should take place through speech, not through stickers, banners, or embroidered symbols," Klöckner explained.
Klöckner is also keeping a wary eye on the Bundestag's selfie-loving factions (AFD and Left party) that seem to be using social media as a publicity stunt. "We're in the midst of a contest where the winner is the one who gets the greatest number of disciplinary actions," she noted. "I'd advise against turning the Bundestag into a TikTok sensation."
Julia Klöckner (Alliance 90/The Greens) previously ejected fellow Left party member, Cansin Köktürk, for donning a "Palestine" tee in early June, and her colleague Marcel Bauer for wearing a beret two weeks earlier.
The Bundestag, as an esteemed institution, requires members and guests to dress "in keeping with the prestige" of the organization, with discretion left to the session chairman regarding enforcement[1][3][4]. Klöckner's stance aims to avoid any political statements or provocative messages that could tarnish the parliamentary atmosphere.
References:
[1] ntv.de
[2] gut
[3] Süddeutsche Zeitung
[4] Deutsche Welle
Amidst the debate over Parliamentary attire, Julia Klöckner, Bundestag President, has emphasized the need for members to dress in a manner that upholds the prestige and dignity of the institution. This comes following the controversy surrounding political statements, such as the Left party members' wearing of a beret and a sweatshirt with a pro-Palestine message. Klöckner's stance aligns with a Council Regulation, COM (90) 525, aiming to amend Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71, which seeks to maintain order and avoid provocative messages within the Community's Parliament. The General-News and Politics sectors are closely monitoring the developing situation.
