Klöckner advocates for revisiting the electoral law reformation within the German Bundestag - Klöckner advocates for more changes to the election law of the Federal Parliament
In a recent development, Julia Klöckner, the President of the Bundestag and a member of the CDU, has advocated for a reform of the German electoral system. The call comes in response to concerns over the diminished value of the first vote and the exclusion of outright winners from the Bundestag following the reduction in its size.
Klöckner's proposed reform aims to restore the effectiveness of the direct vote and strengthen the link between voters and their local representatives. The reform intends to balance proportional representation with the respect for constituency winners, thereby enhancing democratic legitimacy and public trust in the electoral process.
The changes made in the last legislative period, which reduced the size of the Bundestag from 735 to 630 seats by abolishing surplus and balancing mandates, have resulted in 23 election winners not receiving their direct mandate after the early Bundestag election in February. Furthermore, three constituencies in Baden-Württemberg and one in Hesse are not represented in the Bundestag at all due to this change.
The Union and SPD, in their coalition agreement, have agreed to change the voting system again and set up a commission that is supposed to present proposals by the end of this year. The goal is for every constituency winner to be in the Bundestag again, and the parliament should "basically remain at its current size."
A survey commissioned by the German Press Agency found that 47 percent of respondents wanted to keep the current voting system, while 34 percent supported another reform. Among those who voted for the CDU or CSU on February 23, even 50 percent were in favor of keeping the existing voting system.
The proposed reform also includes the examination of how to ensure the equal representation of women in parliament and whether the voting age for federal elections should be lowered to 16 years. The Union has so far rejected lowering the voting age to 16 years, but it could meet the SPD halfway in search of a compromise.
Klöckner has urged parliamentary groups, especially the CDU/CSU, to revisit and further refine the electoral law, emphasizing examining existing reform proposals rather than presenting one herself at this stage. The Bundestag President, in her inaugural speech after her election in late March, had already stated that the voting rights reform should aim to combine a significant reduction in the size of the Bundestag with a comprehensible and fair voting system.
There are already several proposals for the reform on the table, and the work order is included in the coalition agreement. The reform, if implemented, would aim to manage the Bundestag's size while maintaining proportionality and representativeness, address democratic deficits, and improve public comprehension of the electoral system.
In summary, Klöckner's proposed reform seeks to restore the value of the first vote, prevent outright winners from being denied parliamentary seats, address democratic deficits, and manage the Bundestag's size while maintaining proportionality and representativeness to strengthen the Bundestag’s legitimacy.
EC countries might consider adopting similar reforms to strengthen the link between voters and their local representatives in the context of vocational training, given the current discussions about democratic legitimacy and public trust in the electoral process in Germany. This could also open a discussion in the realm of policy-and-legislation about the role of politics in shaping general-news stories.
The proposed reform in Germany, if successfully implemented, could serve as an example for other countries, demonstrating the potential for simultaneously managing parliament size, ensuring proportional representation, and addressing democratic deficits – all while improving public understanding of the electoral system, particularly in the context of vocational training programs.
