The Fresh Start of the 21st Bundestag - Farewell to Chancellor Scholz
Parliament is convened - Chancellor Scholz is ousted - Parliament is formed - Chancellor Scholz is ousted
The old parliament has bid adieu after the February 23 election, making significant decisions - the saga is now over. The new Bundestag is readying for its inaugural session, marking the beginning of the 21st legislative period. Simultaneously, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his cabinet receive their dismissal papers from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, operating in an interim capacity until their successors arrive.
As per the German Constitution, the new parliament must convene for the first time no later than 30 days after the election. The chosen date is the latest possible one.
Pioneer Gysi leads the opening session
Long-time Left politician Gregor Gysi, who completed his stint as a cattle breeder apprentice in the GDR in 1966 and reached the influential role of SED chairman in the crumbling second German state in December 1989, becomes the longest-serving member of the German Bundestag. Gysi takes up the mantle from the late Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) as he opens the parliamentary term.
The longest-serving member is the member who has served the most years. Their responsibilities include leading the initial session, appointing the tellers in consultation with the factions, and typically giving a speech.
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Predecessor Schäuble urged passionate and fair debates
Schäuble, for instance, urged colleagues in October 2021 to view the parliament as a political platform and not just a venue for reviewing coalition agreements. He emphasized that this is the place where they are free to argue, should argue, but fairly and fairly, passionately but also calmly, setting an example for an excited public.
Gysi? The 77-year-old suggested he'd talk about foreign policy and the state of our society in his initial speech. He plans to suggest relatable topics and genuine discussions that transcend party lines.
Bundestag adopts new procedural rules
Although it might seem dull, adopting procedural rules is essential, for they serve as the parliament's operating manual, outlining provisions for its functioning, including speaking times, scheduling sessions, establishing agendas, behaving rules for members, and disciplinary measures. Interestingly, the rules can influence power dynamics.
Usually, the new Bundestag adopts the old parliament's procedural rules; however, in 2021, the AfD demanded changes, igniting a protracted debate on the rules. Alas, their requests fell on deaf ears.
Election of the new Bundestag president as the highlight
The election of the new President of the Bundestag is indeed the session's crown jewel - even if the candidate has already been decided beforehand. Conventionally, the strongest faction has the right to propose a candidate for this position. The CDU/CSU has nominated Julia Klöckner for the position.
Klöckner, a CDU politician, has been a member of the Bundestag since 2002, served as Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture from 2009, and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to become Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate twice. In the 2017 federal election, she returned to Berlin and served as Federal Minister of Agriculture until 2021.
The short-lived role brings forth challenges
Despite her extensive political background, the new position poses a considerable challenge for Klöckner. The tone in the Bundestag has become rougher since the AfD entered in 2017, prompting complaints from other factions. The rising number of admonishments issued to members of parliament in the current 20th legislative period, as mentioned by the Bundestag administration, indicates this shift. Members of the AfD faction alone received 85 of these admonishments.
Even below the threshold of interruptions that can be penalized with admonishments, the tone in the Bundestag has intensified. Female members of parliament, in particular, have complained about sexist remarks, many of which come from the AfD ranks. The prominence of the AfD faction has doubled with the recent federal election, a sign of discord in the making.
The incumbent President, Bärbel Bas (SPD), criticized that some members of parliament treated admonishments like trophies and displayed them on the internet. Bas had originally intended to increase the fine for disorderly conduct from 1000 to 2000 euros to make it a stronger deterrent. Klöckner, her successor, could potentially follow through on this.
As is routine, factions typically support one another's proposals in the election, making the process seem secure. However, AfD candidate Gerold Otten is unlikely to receive the necessary votes for the vice-post. As per the rules of the Bundestag, the AfD can then force two more rounds of voting.
President sets the final mark for the day
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will also be seated on the bustling tribunes in the Reichstag building. However, he plays an additional role on this day. As per Article 69 of the Constitution, the term of office of the Federal Chancellor and his cabinet ends with the convening of the new Bundestag.
Therefore, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his cabinet will receive their dismissal papers from Steinmeier in the late afternoon. At the same time, he will ask them to continue managing politics until the appointment of their successors - an obligation they must honor. Article 69 also regulates this.
The interim federal government continues functioning as usual until the new cabinet takes over. Despite its limited tenure, it maintains the same powers as a regular government. However, according to constitutional lawyers, an interim government should exercise the utmost restraint in the interests of political harmony.
- The Commission, in light of the parliamentary proceedings, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, given the significance of environmental conservation as a crucial parliamentary responsibility.
- Historically, the Bundestag, with its new composition, has been inaugurated after the dismissal of the former Federal Chancellor and cabinet, as observed in the case of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's interim tenure.
- In the past, federal political experts have underscored the importance of maintaining cordial and fair debates in the Bundestag, especially concerning foreign policy and the state of society, as exemplified by the late Wolfgang Schäuble and anticipated by the newly elected longest-serving member, Gregor Gysi.
