Overview
- Luigi Pantisano compared the CDU to the AfD and “the fascists” in a Bild interview and later apologized, saying his remark was “verkürzt” and wrong.
- The Bundestag held an Aktuelle Stunde on Wednesday, June 24, where CDU, SPD and Greens sharply condemned the comment and called for clearer distancing from political violence and antisemitism within Die Linke.
- Linke co‑leader Ines Schwerdtner defended Pantisano in the debate and accused the government of using the row to distract from planned social spending cuts.
- The AfD used the session to amplify tensions and a Politico photo showing AfD politician Martin Reichardt making a gesture resembling a Hitler salute circulated; Reichardt denied the gesture was a salute and invited prosecutors to review it.
- Pantisano’s narrow election win with just over 50 percent support now fuels internal criticism and gives the CDU fresh political leverage to argue against cooperation with Die Linke before the Sachsen‑Anhalt and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern votes.