German parliament Twitter ban derided by MPs Published duration 23 November 2017

image copyright AFP/Getty image caption Mr Schäuble does not use Twitter

German MPs have reacted indignantly to an attempt by the new speaker to restrict their use of social media during sessions in parliament.

Wolfgang Schäuble sent a letter to MPs telling them that electronic devices should not be used to tweet or send out news about what was going on in the chamber.

Frank Sitta of the Free Democrats party tweeted that it made no sense.

Germans can watch what goes on in parliament in live broadcasts, he said.

Mr Sitta asked whether he would be allowed to write handwritten letters, if he was not able to tweet about developments in the Bundestag (German parliament).

"So if you go outside it's ok? Facebook and Instagram are allowed? A handwritten letter would be ok? It all makes no sense!" he said.

Anke Domscheidt-Berg from the left-wing Die Linke party tweeted that she had heard about the Twitter ban on Twitter itself.

"The letter must still be on its way to me," she joked.

Her parliamentary colleague Niema Movassat said transparency "should include the ability to comment on what is happening".

Other MPs have told German media that they would ignore the ban.

During September's election, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party used social media more effectively than any other party, researchers found.