On 13 November 1989, Mielke was summoned to deliver a briefing about the protests to the GDR parliament, or Volkskammer.
Formerly a "rubber stamp parliament," the disintegration of the SED's power had allowed the Volkskammer to begin exercising real authority over the GDR.
Therefore, Mielke, as the head of the Stasi (known as the "shield and sword of the [SED] party"), was summoned before the newly empowered parliament to justify his position in Government.

As his speech was broadcast live, Mielke began by using overly bombastic, flag-waving language, saying "We have, comrades, dear assembly members, an extraordinarily high amount of contact with all working people" (German: "Wir haben, Genossen, liebe Abgeordnete, einen außerordentlich hohen Kontakt zu allen werktätigen Menschen.").
To his shock, the Volkskammer responded with boos, whistles, and catcalls.

His face grief-stricken and pale, Mielke then tried to defuse the situation, "Yes, we have such contact, let me tell you-let me tell you why.
I am not afraid to stand here and to give you an honest answer" (German: "Ja, wir haben den Kontakt, ihr werdet gleich hören – ihr werdet gleich hören, warum.
Ich fürchte mich nicht, ohne Rededisposition hier Antwort zu stehen.").
Mielke continued, speaking of the "triumph" of the socialist economy, continuing all the while to address the members of the Volkskammer as "Comrades" (German: "Genossen").
 In response, Volkskammer member Dietmar Czok of the Christian Democratic Union, rose from his seat and raised his hand.
The Volkskammer's President, Günther Maleuda, interrupted Mielke and urged Czok to speak.

With his voice dripping with contempt, Czok told Mielke, "As a point of order, let me remind you that there are more people sitting in this Chamber than just your Comrades!" (
German: "Zur Geschäftsordnung: Ich bitte doch endlich dafür zu sorgen.
In dieser Kammer sitzen nicht nur Genossen!").
In response, many in the Volkskammer burst into applause, cheers, and shouts of "We are not your Comrades!" (
German: "Wir sind nicht deine Genossen!")

Trying to appear magnanimous, Mielke responded, "This is a natural, Humanistic question!
This is just a question of formality."
 (German: Das ist doch nur 'ne natürliche, menschliche Frage!
Das ist doch nur eine formale Frage!"),
leading to further shouts of displeasure from the members of the Volkskammer.
In a last ditch effort, Mielke "raised his arms like an evangelist," and cried, "I love all – all Humanity!
I really do!
I set myself before you!" (
German: "Ich liebe – Ich liebe doch alle – alle Menschen!
Na liebe doch!
Ich setze mich doch dafür ein!")

Everyone in the room, including staunch SED members, burst out laughing.
John Koehler later wrote, "Mielke was finished."

Mielke's address to the Volkskammer remains the most famous broadcast in the history of German television.
Anna Funder has written, "When they think of Mielke, East Germans like to think of this."
On 13 November 1989, Mielke was summoned to deliver a briefing about the protests to the GDR parliament, or Volkskammer. Formerly a "rubber stamp parliament," the disintegration of the SED's power had allowed the Volkskammer to begin exercising real authority over the GDR. Therefore, Mielke, as the head of the Stasi (known as the "shield and sword of the [SED] party"), was summoned before the newly empowered parliament to justify his position in Government.
As his speech was broadcast live, Mielke began by using overly bombastic, flag-waving language, saying "We have, comrades, dear assembly members, an extraordinarily high amount of contact with all working people" (German: "Wir haben, Genossen, liebe Abgeordnete, einen außerordentlich hohen Kontakt zu allen werktätigen Menschen."). To his shock, the Volkskammer responded with boos, whistles, and catcalls.
His face grief-stricken and pale, Mielke then tried to defuse the situation, "Yes, we have such contact, let me tell you-let me tell you why. I am not afraid to stand here and to give you an honest answer" (German: "Ja, wir haben den Kontakt, ihr werdet gleich hören – ihr werdet gleich hören, warum. Ich fürchte mich nicht, ohne Rededisposition hier Antwort zu stehen."). Mielke continued, speaking of the "triumph" of the socialist economy, continuing all the while to address the members of the Volkskammer as "Comrades" (German: "Genossen").  In response, Volkskammer member Dietmar Czok of the Christian Democratic Union, rose from his seat and raised his hand. The Volkskammer's President, Günther Maleuda, interrupted Mielke and urged Czok to speak.
With his voice dripping with contempt, Czok told Mielke, "As a point of order, let me remind you that there are more people sitting in this Chamber than just your Comrades!" (German: "Zur Geschäftsordnung: Ich bitte doch endlich dafür zu sorgen. In dieser Kammer sitzen nicht nur Genossen!"). In response, many in the Volkskammer burst into applause, cheers, and shouts of "We are not your Comrades!" (German: "Wir sind nicht deine Genossen!")
Trying to appear magnanimous, Mielke responded, "This is a natural, Humanistic question! This is just a question of formality."  (German: Das ist doch nur 'ne natürliche, menschliche Frage! Das ist doch nur eine formale Frage!"), leading to further shouts of displeasure from the members of the Volkskammer. In a last ditch effort, Mielke "raised his arms like an evangelist," and cried, "I love all – all Humanity! I really do! I set myself before you!" (German: "Ich liebe – Ich liebe doch alle – alle Menschen! Na liebe doch! Ich setze mich doch dafür ein!")
Everyone in the room, including staunch SED members, burst out laughing. John Koehler later wrote, "Mielke was finished."
Mielke's address to the Volkskammer remains the most famous broadcast in the history of German television. Anna Funder has written, "When they think of Mielke, East Germans like to think of this."
Erich Mielke