AfD delegate to Parliament: After the performance in the Bundestag, police were deployed to the hotel

On June 8, 2026, members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party waved a German flag from a balcony of the Bundestag building while a demonstration passed by on the street below. This act prompted the Bundestag police to investigate whether the display of the flag violated the house rules. According to social media claims, a rainbow flag would have been acceptable under these regulations. The incident was captured in a video shared by AfD politician Beatrix von Storch, who was present at the scene and personally waved the flag. The footage shows her standing on the balcony alongside other AfD members, cheering at an anti-Merz demonstration. Additionally, the video highlights a room opposite the Bundestag where a rainbow flag can be seen through a window. Von Storch reportedly drew the attention of the Bundestag police to this flag as well, though whether it needed removal remains unclear.

The Bundestag's internal regulations do not explicitly prohibit flags or banners but emphasize that the visible placement of such items within or on the buildings of the Bundestag is generally forbidden. According to a press spokesperson for the Bundestag, the installation of posters, signs, stickers, and similar items on doors, walls, windows, or facades of publicly accessible Bundestag buildings is strictly prohibited. While the regulation does not specifically mention flags, they appear to fall under this prohibition. It remains uncertain whether waving a flag in one’s hand constitutes "installation" as defined in the rules. The press officer did not provide further clarification when asked about this point.

In previous years, instances of flags being removed from the Bundestag have occurred. In June 2025, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who holds the authority over the premises, banned the raising of the rainbow flag during the Christopher Street Day celebrations due to neutrality considerations. However, she allowed the flag to fly on May 17, the International Day against Homophobia. During the summer of 2025, the Bundestag police were frequently deployed to remove visible rainbow flags both inside and outside the building, including those belonging to members of the SPD and Die Linke parties.

When questioned about why their rainbow flags had to be removed, the office of Die Linke MP Stella Merendino explained that the flag had been placed on a window overlooking the courtyard of the parliamentary complex. This action was deemed a violation of Paragraph 4, Section 2, Sentence 2 of the house rules. Similarly, the office of SPD MP Lina Seitzl stated that she would not comment on the matter. In contrast, the rainbow flag visible in von Storch’s video appears to be hanging in a room rather than on a window, which raises questions about its compliance with the house rules.

The situation has sparked broader discussions about the interpretation of the Bundestag’s house rules regarding flags and symbols. While the official stance emphasizes strict adherence to the prohibition on visible installations, the practical application of these rules remains ambiguous. The case involving von Storch and the AfD has drawn particular attention, especially given the political implications of displaying national versus alternative symbols within the Bundestag. The Bundestag police continue to monitor and enforce these regulations, ensuring that the premises remain free of unauthorized displays. As the investigation into this specific incident unfolds, it will likely contribute to ongoing debates about the balance between symbolic expression and institutional order within Germany’s legislative body.