Abstract
<jats:p>The article examines the role of precedent phenomena in contemporary German parliamentary discourse. The research aims to identify the pragmatic functions performed by precedent texts, names, statements, and situations within the rhetorical strategies of members of the Bundestag. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, as a result of a comprehensive analysis of precedent phenomena as tools of political communication, their functions and usage strategies amidst current ideological contradictions have been established for the first time. The study examines specific examples of mechanisms for appealing to historical events and figures, as well as to phenomena of popular culture. The results prove that precedent phenomena serve as an effective means of veiling ideological messages and exerting a manipulative influence on the audience. It was established that precedent phenomena perform a complex of pragmatic functions (evaluative-characterizing, manipulative-impact, identification-consolidating, modeling, attractive, and ludic), often realized in combination with irony and wordplay to construct group identity, legitimize political stances, or discredit opponents.</jats:p>