German lawmakers grapple with fallout from alleged coup plot

An investigation into a far-right terrorist group that was allegedly plotting to overthrow the German government is set to be at the centre of discussions in parliament.

The legal affairs committee and the interior affairs committee will meet for a special session on Monday, while members of parliament will be able to pose questions about the investigation to the parliamentary control committee, which meets in secret.

The chairperson of the defence committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, also announced that she would put the issue on the agenda of the upcoming session.

According to Family Minister Lisa Paus, the Cabinet would on Wednesday discuss a bill to promote democracy and “support those who confront anti-democratic forces.’’

Twenty-five suspects, including a former member of parliament, were arrested in a series of raids on Wednesday.

They sought to overthrow the democratic order and install a new government, according to the public prosecutor’s office.

Prosecutors said that the key suspects belonged to an unnamed terrorist group linked to the extremist Reichsbürger (Reich Citizens) movement, a group which does not acknowledge the authority of the German state.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Sunday evening described the group as posing a “very serious” danger.

The conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group requested the special committee sessions in order to find out whether the suspects might have been forewarned so that they could have removed weapons and other evidence ahead of the raids.

CDU general secretary Mario Czaja told public broadcaster ZDF on Monday: “We will do everything that needs to be done to make our country secure and to stop this kind of infiltration.”

Stricter gun control laws would be part of those discussions, he said. Weapons were also seized during the raids last week.