"Shouting match" in the Bundestag over porn scandal in Saxony

Following the pornography scandal at a school in Saxony, representatives of the AfD and the other parties in the Bundestag had a heated exchange of blows. The AfD had requested a current affairs debate on the topic.

Faction leader Tino Chrupalla, who opened the debate, said that this was not an isolated case and called for state funding for the Amadeu Antonio Foundation to be stopped until all of its projects had been examined. The foundation campaigns for minorities and human rights and had financially supported the theater workshop in question at a secondary school in Schleife (Upper Lusatia). It was organized by the "Socialist Youth of Germany - The Falcons".

CSU criticism: "They want to blow up the issue into a nationwide scandal!"

The other parties were also largely in agreement that the incident should be condemned, but that the school, authorities and project sponsors should have acted quickly and consistently. However, speakers from the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens and Left accused the AfD of now dragging the issue onto the national political stage in order to create a general mood against non-governmental organizations such as the Amadeu Antonio Foundation.

"Today, they wanted to blow up an individual scandal from Mr Chruppalla's constituency into a nationwide scandal," said CSU MP Konrad Körner. "They are just looking for occasions to defame NGOs and drag democracy promotion into the mud," shouted left-wing politician Maik Brückner towards the AfD.

The debate got loud: AfD MP Martin Reichardt sharply attacked SPD politician Helge Lindh and accused him of defending "the hawks". Lindh rejected this and accused Reichardt of using the word "clan liability", which seems to be historically close to him.

"Please stop shouting!"

In view of the sharp verbal attacks, Bundestag Vice-President Andrea Lindholz (CSU) called for moderation. "What's going on here right now, to be honest, is simply no longer appropriate," she said. This is not parliamentary cooperation. "Please also stop the shouting," she added.

The case being debated took place in March. During the project on the topic of "courage" and "current political issues", ninth-graders were allegedly presented with pornographic images and content in the classroom. According to media reports, the images were of two men engaging in various sexual practices.