Overview

• Juso leader Philipp Türmer escalated the dispute by calling Julia Klöckner the worst Bundestag president of the recent past and predicting no improvement.
• His remarks follow Robert Habeck’s parting broadside accusing Klöckner of polarizing, polemicizing and failing to act impartially in the chair.
• Pressure grew after Klöckner compared the left-leaning taz with the right-leaning portal Nius at a reception linked to entrepreneur Frank Gotthardt, prompting Die Linke to demand her resignation.
• Critics cite earlier decisions, including her refusal to allow rainbow flagging of the Reichstag for CSD and the ejection of a Left party MP for a Palestine shirt in the plenary.
• The CDU/CSU leadership continues to back Klöckner, while SPD figures signal a need for talks about her conduct and no formal steps or resignation have been announced.