The gesture and the video

At the first sitting of the new Landtag in Schwerin on Tuesday, 20 October, AfD politician Tommy Thormann formed a circle with his thumb and index finger while extending his other fingers. He posted a video of the gesture on Instagram himself. Reports note that he had shown the same ambiguous hand position before.

Disputed meaning

The Bavarian Information Centre against Extremism (BIGE) says right-wing extremist groups use the gesture as a symbol of "White Power". Among divers, the same sign is known as a signal for "Okay", which is the argument the AfD side leans on.

Calls for action

Hennis Herbst, chair of the Left parliamentary group, asked Landtag president Birgit Hesse in writing to have the presidium examine the incident and to consider a reprimand of the deputy. He criticised the gesture in strong terms.

“The incident once again confirms why we did not vote for an AfD representative for the Landtag's presidium.”

“The Landtag must not accept such provocations without contradiction.”

SPD parliamentary group leader Julian Barlen demanded that Thormann be expelled from the AfD parliamentary group in the Landtag immediately.

“The AfD once again shows how deeply right-wing extremism is anchored in its ranks.”

AfD response

The AfD parliamentary group said, when asked, that for Thormann the gesture simply means "Läuft". According to the group, other members also showed various gestures before the official sitting, which should be read as greetings rather than political signs. The group said it wished to make clear that for it and for Thormann the gesture is not a political symbol.