The deputy speaker of the parliament in the southwestern state of stepped down on Friday from his role after admitting he had drawn a swastika on a ballot paper next to the name of a far-right AfD lawmaker.
Center-left Social Democrat (SPD) politician Daniel Born made the transgression during a vote involving two lawmakers.
What do we know about the resignation?
In a statement, the Born said he had made a “serious mistake” during a “momentary lapse.”
The incident happened during Thursday’s election of deputy members to the cross-border Upper Rhine Council, a consultative body.
Two AfD lawmakers were on the ballot. A swastika was found on one of the ballots next to the name of AfD candidate Bernhard Eisenhut.
The news that someone had drawn a swastika prompted widespread outrage. Initially, it was unclear who had drawn the Nazi symbol.
State parliament president Muhterem Aras from the Green Party called the act a “criminal offense,” and the parliament filed a criminal complaint with police on Thursday evening, initially against an unknown perpetrator.
What did the lawmaker say about the incident?
On Friday, Born said he would also step down from the SPD parliamentary group. However, Born stopped short of giving up his seat in parliament.
“This was a serious error of judgment,” he said. “I deeply regret this and accept the consequences.”
“I made a serious mistake and in a moment of rash emotion drew a swastika behind the name of an AfD candidate,” Born wrote in an email to other parliamentary leaders, quoted by public broadcaster SWR. “I will never forgive myself for this failure.”
The swastika was the symbol of National Socialism and the party logo of the Nazi Party.
Whether marking a swastika on a ballot during a secret vote constitutes a prosecutable crime remains to be determined by investigators and possibly the courts. Under Germany’s Criminal Code, the use of unconstitutional symbols can be punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine.
Born, 49, had been a member of parliament since 2016 and served as one of the legislature’s vice presidents since 2021. He also acted as the SPD’s spokesperson on religious affairs.
Why did the politician draw a swastika?
Explaining his actions, Born cited deep concern over the and its disruptive conduct during Thursday’s vote. “The speeches yesterday and the chaos caused by the AfD shook me deeply,” he wrote. “I was in a state of emotional distress and completely failed.”
Parliament president Aras spoke of a scandal and on Friday called on the “person responsible” to resign from their parliamentary seat.
“I have come to know Daniel Born as a passionate parliamentarian,” said Aras. “Nevertheless, I expect him to resign his seat as well.”
The AfD’s effort to have a representative on the council, a German-French-Swiss body, ultimately failed.
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