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Flag dispute in the Thuringian state parliament: symbols of sovereignty?
In the Saale-Orla district they are planning to put flags on public buildings. One goal of the debate is to increase the visibility of the state.
Flag dispute in the Thuringian state parliament: symbols of sovereignty?
In Thuringia there is a simmering political discussion about the raising of flags. In the Saale-Orla district, as from MDR reports, the district administrator plans to have caretakers raise the flags in front of schools. However, this should not happen every day, but ideally once, to ensure permanent flagging. Herrgott emphasizes that the flags promote the visibility of state institutions. In the event of a storm or storm, you want to decide spontaneously whether the flags should remain hoisted or be taken down.
The dispute over the flag has agitated people in the Thuringian state parliament. The government factions of the CDU, BSW, SPD and AfD want to submit an application on June 18th. CDU parliamentary group leader Andreas Bühl sees the flag display as more than just a symbolic act. He demands that all authorities in the Free State be permanently equipped with the Thuringia, German and European flags. The AfD, which sharply criticizes the European flag plan and expresses concerns about sovereignty, is causing unrest.
Dispute over symbolic politics
The Left sees the entire debate as symbolic politics and sees no need to adapt the Thuringian Flag Ordinance. “Flags on poles don’t solve any real problems,” says Ronald Hande, the Left Party’s domestic policy spokesman. This makes it clear that the discussion about flags is not just about national identity, but also about social issues.
75 years ago, the Second World War ended and democratic renewal in Europe began. The Dutch community of Dinkelland also reminds us of this by calling on people to raise flags and reflect on the meaning of freedom Nordhorn reported. To celebrate the day, Mayor Thomas Berling had the European flag raised at the town hall to remind people of the value of freedom, open borders and human rights. These topics are particularly relevant due to the corona pandemic, as many personal freedoms have been restricted.
A look back into history
The conflicts over state symbols also bring back historical memories. In January 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor, which happened by circumventing the democratic structures of the Weimar Republic Segu describes. The fire of the Reichstag and the subsequent decree abolishing basic rights led to the persecution of many people and created the conditions for an undemocratic regime.
These historical contexts illustrate the importance of preserving our democratic values and symbols. The current discussion in Thuringia about raising flags could therefore be seen as a further step towards consolidating a stable and visible democracy.