Lindholz decries rougher tone in Bundestag – criticises AfD's treatment of women
The CSU deputy speaker accuses the AfD in particular of a lack of respect for female speakers. AfD lawmaker Reichardt was fined for his conduct.
Archive image · Photo: Hendrik Steffens / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Bundestag Vice President Andrea Lindholz (CSU) told ZDFheute that dealings in parliament have become "much rougher" in this legislative period – "not on substance, but in how we deal with one another". The extreme parties speak with a strong focus on social media, she said. Debates have become "much less pleasant and at times also personally hurtful". "The worst thing is that we ourselves are becoming objects for social media," said Lindholz, who has been vice president since March 2025.
The AfD in particular lacks respect for women, Lindholz said. Female speakers sometimes face remarks about their appearance and incessant heckling during their speeches; the respect shown to them is "different, lesser". Women from all parliamentary groups have raised this with her, but the presiding officer can hardly intervene if she did not clearly perceive a remark herself. As an example she cited last week's speech by AfD lawmaker Martin Reichardt. He was fined, and when the fine was imposed she made clear "that enough is enough", she said. "I cannot see any insight among those concerned," Lindholz said, distinguishing between a reprimand without consequences and a call to order or a fine.