CDU rejects AfD application: Radeberg town hall remains flag-free!

CDU rejects AfD application: Radeberg town hall remains flag-free!

Things could get really exciting in Radeberg at the upcoming city council meeting on October 29th. The focus is on a proposal from the AfD that aims to have the town hall permanently flagged with the German flag and the Saxon state flag. The parliamentary group leader Daniel Looke and his colleague Uwe Kranz want to create a “neutral symbol” of the free-democratic basic order. This discussion about flagging public buildings has been gaining momentum for several months, especially in East Germany. There was already a similar application from the AfD in the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains district, which also discussed the German flag, reports Saxon newspaper.

But not everyone on the city council is convinced of this idea. CDU parliamentary group leader Frank-Peter Wieth sharply criticizes the AfD proposal and describes it as “symbolic politics” and “gimmickry”. He emphasizes that the focus should be on the real challenges in the city and not symbolic measures. The CDU and the Free Voters/FDP, in turn, have submitted their own proposal that calls for the German, Saxon and European flags to be displayed. This would fit seamlessly into the city's current regulations, which already provide for certain occasions when flags are raised.

Backgrounds to the flag

As the Wikipedia As explained, the flagging of public buildings in Germany is strictly regulated. The Federal Government's Flag Decree determines when and where which flags may be flown. This not only affects federally owned institutions, but also the states and their municipalities. There are certain national memorial days on which, for example, the flags are flown at half-mast, and special days for flying flags in certain regions.

The question now arises for Radeberg: What symbolism do the city councilors really want to convey? The AfD argues that flying the flags could provide guidance and consistency in times of international tension. Interestingly, there would be no additional costs for the city to implement the proposal since two flagpoles are already in place.

Political dimensions

On June 5, 2025, a debate took place in the German Bundestag about a similar proposal from the AfD, which was about creating a more traditional flag for official buildings. This debate led to the motion being referred to the committees - especially the Interior Committee. The AfD's move to minimize the black, red and gold flag as the central symbol of sovereignty of the Federal Republic and all other flags continues to be a topic of conversation. The AfD does not view the EU flag as a symbol of national sovereignty, which is why its use is discriminated against.

There are further considerations in the context of the Radeberg debate. On the one hand, increased visibility of the national flag could be perceived by some as a sign of identity and unity. On the other hand, there are critical voices that warn that such measures threaten to distract from the really pressing political issues on the ground.

In any case, the discussion about the flag remains a hot topic that goes far beyond Radeberg and raises deeper questions about national identity and symbolic politics. So the question is: Will the city give in to the symbolism of a political proposal or continue to focus on the real challenges?