Claudia Wittig faces criticism over political rhetoric and cafe ban

Claudia Wittig, deputy parliamentary group leader for the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) in Saxony-Anhalt, has drawn criticism following a rhetorical dispute with Die Linke politician Eva von Angern. The tension arose after von Angern compared AfD politician Tobias Rausch to Nazi leader Hermann Göring, suggesting that a right-wing extremist should not serve as parliament president. Wittig, a historian, argued that such comparisons instrumentalize National Socialist crimes for political purposes and risk relativizing historical atrocities.

Separately, Wittig has been issued a ban from several cafes in Halle operated by a local restaurateur. The proprietor cited Wittig’s refusal to maintain a strict ‘firewall’ against the AfD, noting that she engages in dialogue with AfD figures. Wittig has defended her position, advocating for the preservation of public debate spaces while maintaining that she would not support a coalition with the AfD.