telecommunications
Bas advises cell phone abstinence in the plenary hall
A plenary session in the German Bundestag. The President of the Bundestag is appealing to MPs and members of the government to leave their mobile phones in their pockets more often. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
If MPs stare too much at their cell phones, it may not go down so well with the citizens. The President of the Bundestag is concerned about the good reputation of the government.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas has appealed to MPs and members of the government to leave their mobile phones in their pockets more often in the plenary hall and not to use them all the time. “You have to be aware of how it is received by the citizens when they are constantly working with their cell phones on the government bench or in parliament,” said the SPD politician on Wednesday in Berlin at the presentation of the Parliament 2022 media prize the impression that the respective speaker is not being listened to at all.
“Lots of citizens write to me and say: Why don’t you ban mobile phones in Parliament,” Bas reported. A survey showed that more than 80 percent were against mobile phones in the plenary hall. With a ban, however, she would probably not be able to assert herself. “Well, I’m not even going to try.” One must also take into account that the mobile phone is a work tool for the deputies.
Bas also gave an insight into her own mobile phone usage behavior: “I’m writing the most with (Defense Minister) Christine Lambrecht at the moment”, also with emojis – “the whole range”. She also often uses an avatar that looks like her. However, the 54-year-old has drawn consequences from the stress that the publication of a video during her corona infection on TikTok brought her. “I’m out again,” she said, looking at the platform. The video was criticized by some users online.