A Peek into the Constitutive Session of the German Bundestag
- by Eugen Epp
- 2 Min
Procedures in the Bundestag constituent meeting: An outline - Parliamentary body elected by German federal convention consists of:
On Tuesday, Germany's Bundestag will hold its constitutive session, commencing the new legislative period following the February Bundestag election. By law, the Bundestag must convene for the parliamentary opening within 30 days after the election, with Tuesday being the latest possible date. While the constitutive session shares similarities with regular sessions, it also presents a few distinctive features.
Timing of the Constitutive Session
The session is set to begin at 11 a.m., according to the Bundestag's official agenda. It is expected to last approximately three hours and forty-five minutes.
Opening the Constitutive Session
With the expiration of the previous Bundestag President's term, Bärbel Bas has invited parliamentarians to the constitutive session. Unfortunately, she will not be present herself. Instead, the session will be opened by the most seasoned member of the Bundestag. Previously, this was the oldest member of parliament, but now the title goes to the member with the most years of service in the Bundestag. For this year, this role will be assumed by Gregor Gysi, who has been a parliamentarian for over 31 years. The Left Party politician will deliver a speech, during which he has announced he intends to limit his address to half an hour. Additionally, temporary scribes will be assigned to support the oldest member, particularly during the election of the Bundestag presidency.
Selecting the New Bundestag President
The new Bundestag will vote for a President. Typically, the presidential candidate is nominated by the largest parliamentary group - this time, it is former Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner from the CDU/CSU faction. Klöckner needs an absolute majority of at least 316 votes for her election, but her selection is expected to be a formality.
The election for the Bundestag President takes place via a secret ballot, with each member called upon individually. After her election, Klöckner will assume leadership of the session from Gysi and also deliver an address.
Choosing the Bundestag Deputies (Vice-Presidents)
Following the election of the Bundestag President, their deputies will be selected. Each faction is entitled to nominate a candidate. In the past, nominees from the AfD have been unsuccessful. This time around, the AfD has nominated Gerold Otten. Alongside Otten, the candidates Andrea Lindholz (CDU/CSU), Josephine Ortleb (SPD), Omid Nouripour (Greens), and Bodo Ramelow (Left) are vying for election. The SPD and Greens have yet to announce their candidates.
Miscellaneous Details
The last item on the agenda is also noteworthy. The members will conclude the constitutive session of the Bundestag with the national anthem, and this time, they may even join in on the singing. In 2021, they were only permitted to listen – a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes in the New Bundestag
The parliament is significantly smaller, now comprising 630 members, contrasting the previous 733 members. The five factions participating in the parliament are CDU/CSU, AfD, SPD, the Greens, and the Left. The FDP did not earn a seat, and neither did the BSW members.
Regarding the Federal Government
With the establishment of the new Bundestag, the term of office for Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet comes to an end. Scholz and his cabinet members will receive dismissal letters from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the afternoon. The previous government will continue to serve in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed, and the length of this transition is still uncertain.
- Bundestag
- Gregor Gysi
- Federal Election
- Bundestag Presidium
- Cordon Sanitaire
Insights
- The constitutive session is vital in setting the stage for the legislative term by establishing the leadership of the Bundestag and reshaping the parliamentary landscape following elections.
- The session involves a unique process where each candidate for the Bundestag Presidency and their deputies is selected through a secret ballot, with members called upon individually.
- In the event of an extreme party, like the AfD, not securing a position, the "cordon sanitaire" principle may be applied to exclude them from key roles, such as the Vice-Presidency of the Bundestag.
- The constitutive session of the German Bundestag, scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m., is a significant event in shaping the leadership of the Bundestag and reshaping the parliamentary landscape, as per the community and social policies outlined by Eugen Epp.
- Gregor Gysi, the most seasoned member of the Bundestag with over 31 years of service, will open the session and deliver a speech.
- In this session, Julia Klöckner, nominated by the largest parliamentary group (CDU/CSU), requires an absolute majority of at least 316 votes to become the new Bundestag President. The AfD has nominated Gerold Otten for the position of Vice-President of the Bundestag.
