Nationalism | Bautzen: Flag replaces democracy promotion

In the Bautzen district, the German flag will fly permanently in front of all public buildings in the future. The district council will consider a corresponding motion by District Administrator Udo Witschas next week. The CDU politician justifies the plan with increasing social tensions, polarization, and disorientation. In light of this, the "visible commitment to homeland, origins, and shared values" takes on new significance, the council proposal states. In addition to the federal flag, the Sorbian flag should also be flown in front of schools in the Sorbian settlement area, and the Saxon flag should also be flown in front of the district's administrative buildings.

Witschas was inspired by an initiative originally launched by the AfD . A spokeswoman for the district council told the Sächsische Zeitung that he had used reports of similar resolutions in a district council in Saxony-Anhalt as "the impetus" for his proposal. At the end of March, the CDU in Jerichower Land helped the AfD's motion "Show the Flag!" gain a majority. The motion identifies the nation's "community of fate and values" as the "lowest common denominator" in times of crisis. The permanent display of the flag is intended to strengthen national sentiment. The AfD in the Bautzen district also submitted this motion word for word at the next meeting, as did the AfD in the Erzgebirgskreis.

In Saxony-Anhalt, four additional districts subsequently decided to permanently display the flag. Chemnitz City Council discussed a corresponding motion from the CDU and FDP this Wednesday. The city administration rejected the proposal, arguing that it would no longer emphasize the special nature of commemorations and holidays. The right-wing extremist group Pro Chemnitz is calling for a regulation that prohibits rainbow flags and flags of "foreign countries."

Witschas goes even further than the AfD's proposal. The AfD wants flags to be flown only where appropriate flagpoles are available. According to press reports, this is only the case in Jerichower Land, for example, at six of the 23 eligible buildings, and in Bautzen district at ten schools and two administrative buildings. In a revised version of his proposal, the district administrator is requesting funding for the erection of an additional 37 flagpoles. The costs are estimated at €74,000. In addition, a good €5,000 will be allocated for the purchase of new flags. The funds should be generated "through increased revenue or reduced expenditure."

"This sounds like a case for the Taxpayers' Association's Black Book."

Silvio Lang, District Leader of The Left Party, Bautzen

The district actually has no money and, for this reason, decided at the end of January to end its participation in the federal program "Partnership for Democracy." This would have required an annual expenditure of €50,000 of its own funds to qualify for federal funding four times as high. Over the funding period until 2032, this totals €1.6 million. The money is intended for clubs and initiatives that promote youth participation and support volunteer work . The Tolerant Saxony network criticized the decision: "Social cohesion and basic democratic values ​​such as openness and diversity cannot be taken for granted" in a district with many right-wing extremist rallies and increasing attacks on Sorbs.

Whether the district council will follow the district administrator's request remains to be seen. The AfD (32 representatives) and the CDU (25) together hold a clear majority in the 92-seat municipal parliament. However, CDU parliamentary group leader Mirko Pink told the "Sächsische Zeitung" that they wanted to wait and see how the costs would be covered. The Left Party is calling on the district councilors of the democratic parliamentary groups to reject the plans. Its district leader, Silvio Lang, spoke of expensive and unnecessary "symbolic politics" and a potential case for the Taxpayers' Association's Black Book. Furthermore, there is an administrative regulation in the Free State regarding the display of flags, including at schools, that is more far-reaching than Witschas' proposal.