Stasi checks

The proposals put forward by Germany’s liberal Free Democrats suggested that everyone who had held a seat in parliament from 1949 onwards should be subjected to what it called a ‘Stasi check’.

But the motion met with resounding resistance from across the political spectrum, with the vast majority of Christian Democrats, Christian Social Union, Social Democrats and Left Party MPs voting against it. The Green Party abstained from the ballot altogether.

The FDP move was sparked by the revelation that West German policeman, Karl-Heinz Kurras, who shot and killed student demonstrator, Benno Ohnesorg, had been spying for the Stasi since 1955.

Justifying his party's calls for the systematic checks, liberal MP Christoph Waitz said the FDP wanted “a substantiated investigation into the extent to which political decisions were influenced.” He said nobody could seriously want former West Stasi agents holding sensitive government positions today.

Looking at other options

Yet his arguments failed to convice the opposition parties. Social Democrat MP, Wolfgang Thierse, said the proposals went too far, but suggested the creation of a “realistic research project.”

Christian Democrat, Maria Michalk described the FDP petition as populist, adding that it would require the respective MPs consent. Lukrezia Jochimsen of the Left Party, spoke of "demagogy and rumors."

Although they rejected the liberal’s idea, representatives from all parties said they were fundamentally open to greater research into the reach of the Stasi on West German politicians. Head of the Stasi archives, Marianne Birthler, said it is one of the many areas of research areas which has been affected by falling staff numbers.

tkw/AP/reuters/dpa

Editor: Nick Amies