Linnemann opposes Ramelow's proposal for an anthem

Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow, a Left politician, has stirred up a debate in Germany by proposing a new national anthem and a referendum on the black-red-gold national flag. In late August 2025, Ramelow publicly announced his proposal to replace the current national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen," with Bertolt Brecht's "children's hymn."

Written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, "Das Lied der Deutschen" has been the national anthem of Germany since 1922. However, Ramelow believes that the third stanza, commonly known as the national anthem, contains problematic stanzas for some Germans, particularly East Germans. He emphasizes that he sings the third stanza with enthusiasm, but many East Germans do not sing the national anthem for various reasons.

Ramelow's proposal to replace the national anthem with Brecht's "children's hymn" is not a new topic in the debate. In fact, during the time of reunification, there was a proposal to choose Brecht's "children's hymn" as the national anthem for the reunited Germany. However, this proposal did not come to fruition.

The government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, stated that Chancellor Merkel finds the current national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen," beautiful in both music and text. On the other hand, CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has criticized Ramelow's proposal, accusing him of seeking a culture war and using the Basic Law for that purpose. Linnemann also emphasizes that the national anthem stands for democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law in Germany.

Ramelow, however, sees potential for a united German anthem that everyone could sing with joy. He believes the children's hymn has a wonderful text and could be a suitable replacement. The debate over the national anthem in Germany has a historical context, dating back to the time of reunification.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) did not join the call to replace the national anthem in 2019. Ramelow's proposal has been met with criticism from Linnemann, who sees it as a threat to the country's democratic order. The last discussion of Ramelow's proposal occurred around August 29, 2025.

The debate over the national anthem in Germany revolves around the potential for a change to Bertolt Brecht's children's hymn. While some, like Ramelow, see it as a way to unite East and West Germans, others, like Linnemann, see it as a threat to the country's democratic values. The future of Germany's national anthem remains uncertain as this debate continues.