Germany: AfD Bundestag committee head ousted over alleged anti-Semitism

M/S Alternative for Germany (AfD) Bundestag member Stephan Brandner, German Parliament's (Bundestag) Legal Affairs Committee, Berlin
C/U Brandner
M/S Committee
M/S Committee
W/S Committee
M/S Committee
M/S Brandner and AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland approaching press
SOT, Stephan Brandner, Member of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party (German): "The traditional parties have embarrassed themselves dramatically today. First, they used my criticism of Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Udo Lindenberg to create a media storm against me. It was then the 'Judaslohn' ['Judas Reward'] tweet. This is not the issue anymore. Now they tried to construct something desperately to strip of my post. Why was Mr Brandner stripped of his post? Not because I was the worst committee president in 70 years, but I was the best ever. They wanted a referee, and I gave them a centre-forward. The traditional parties couldn't cope with that."
M/S Brandner, Weidel, Gauland and press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Alexander Gauland, Co-leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party (German): "Why should the word 'Judaslohn' be anti-Semitic? Mr Lauterbach used it, Mr Kahrs used it, you could read it in the press. What is anti-Semitic about it? The Jews and Judas have nothing to do with each other. Jesus was a Jew, and his following were the Jews, including Judas."
C/U Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Alexander Gauland, Co-leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party (German): "What has happened here is an affront to democracy. And those opposing parties that have supported it need to ask themselves if now the chairman will not be designated by the parliamentary group but instead in the future if one doesn't obey, they will be voted out. That's a breach of taboo, and this has not happened in the history of the Federal Republic. And this taboo breach can be used against others too."
M/S Brandner, Weidel and Gauland speaking to press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Stephan Brandner, Member of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party (German): "Germany, Merkel-state 2019. You voice your opinion, and swoosh - there goes your job. This is not only about us, but dozens, hundreds of people experience the same thing almost every day. They don't dare to voice their opinion, and if they do, they lose their jobs. That's democracy in Germany."
M/S Media *CUTAWAY*
M/S Brandner, Weidel and Gauland leaving
SCRIPT
The German Parliament's (Bundestag) Legal Affairs Committee voted to oust its chairperson Stephan Brandner, a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, in Berlin on Wednesday, after he made comments that were widely seen as anti-Semitic.
Brandner was stripped of his post after the committee voted 37-6 in favour of his removal. It is the first time in German post-war history that a committee head has been voted out.
AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland condemned the committee's decision, calling it an "affront to democracy."
"Germany - Merkel-state 2019. You voice your opinion, and swoosh - there goes your job," stated Brandner.
Brandner has repeatedly been accused of expressing anti-Semitic sentiments, including his recent tweet where he claimed that singer Udo Lindenberg, who is critical of the AfD, was given a 'Judaslohn' ('Judas Reward') when he was presented with the Federal Order of Merit.
The AfD is now the third largest party in the Bundestag following the 2017 election, which was the first time the party gained representation in the parliament's lower house.