The incident occurred during the first government statement by Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) in the Stuttgart Landtag. Hagel, who has only been sitting on the government bench as interior minister for a few days, was so taken by the speech that he applauded – a violation of the unwritten rules of conduct for ministers.
Landtag President Strobl, also new to the office, interrupted the speech and rebuked Hagel with dry precision: “Minister Hagel, I ask you to refrain from expressions of displeasure and applause from the government bench.” Laughter broke out in the plenary hall. Strobl added that Hagel should henceforth express his applause from his parliamentary seat.
Hagel was the CDU’s top candidate in the state election; his party narrowly lost to the Greens. The switch from parliamentary group leader to minister still seems unfamiliar to him: while MPs are allowed to applaud and interject, strict restraint applies to the government bench.
Source: www.welt.de
