A German politician has said "the time is right" for a revival of nudist culture across the country, blaming the West's "slightly pornographic look" for its decline.

"In the East, men were accustomed to nudity,” Gregor Gysi, of the Left Party, said. “There's nothing special about it. But if you never see it, it's more unusual, and you get big eyes".

The 69-year-old held a (fully clothed) election campaign event from a popular nudist beach in Berlin this week.

"We need more naturist offers again," he told Bild magazine, which accompanied him to Müggelsee beach resort, where he sunbathed and spoke with local nudists. “The time is right to extend naturism now,” he said.

Public nudism is not uncommon in Germany, a country with nude sports clubs and beach areas, as well as many mixed gender “textile free” saunas.

However, the German nudist movement, known as “free body culture” (FKK), may be in decline.

The movement, which started in the 1800’s, and which is not linked to eroticism or sexuality, but to freedom and enjoyment of nature, has historically been part of East Germany.