IIn the dispute over possible betrayal of secrets in the Defense Committee, the Bundestag administration has contradicted the statement made by committee chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP). The chairwoman of the committee does have the opportunity to limit the number of participants in committee meetings with confidential content, the parliamentary administration told the AFP news agency on Wednesday. Strack-Zimmermann had previously repeatedly emphasized that she had no influence on the group of participants.
The Bundestag's rules of procedure grant a relatively large group of people the right to participate in committee meetings, according to the Bundestag administration. However, those authorized to access would not automatically have the right to take part in all meetings if they involved content that was classified as secret. The chairwoman of the Defense Committee can already apply these rules.
Strack-Zimmmermann had previously announced that he would limit the number of participants at certain meetings in order to reduce the risk of confidential information from the committee being passed on in the future. The FDP politician announced talks on Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday morning. The ministries should withdraw employees they have sent when secret matters are discussed. “We will make the suggestion. “That won’t spark any joy,” said Strack-Zimmermann.
Two thirds are not full members
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has already told her that he wants to do this. The committee itself could also make suggestions to ask some of the employees to leave the room when discussing secret topics. They want to talk to the chairmen in the committee about the procedure.
After the secret meeting of the Defense Committee on Monday last week, information about the Taurus cruise missile was made public. 105 people took part in the meeting. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas expressed surprise that Strack-Zimmermann had allowed this.
The FDP politician pointed out that the committee has 38 full members, and depending on the topic, some of their deputies are also there. Two thirds, however, come from ministries, the Chancellery, the Federal President's Office, secret services and state representations of the federal states. That is documented law. She couldn't say there were too many there. “I can’t do that, the President of the Bundestag knows that very well,” said Strack-Zimmermann.
Nevertheless, it must be clear to everyone that if they report from such a meeting, they could be prosecuted, warned Strack-Zimmermann. Since Russia's attack on Ukraine, she has observed a “casuality” on the part of some people to report from the committee.