Julia Klöckner Steps into Role as New Bundestag President at Inaugural Session, Defying Tradition
Parliament's inaugural gathering in Germany's Bundestag takes place on Tuesday.
Get ready for change in the Bundestag! After 30 days since her election, the fresh faces will gather for the first session on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the 21st legislative period. But it's not just the newcomers that will shake things up - the oldest parliamentarian, Left Party MP Gregor Gysi, the longest-serving member of the Bundestag, will open the session, breaking with tradition.
Gysi will deliver a speech and preside over the session until a new Bundestag President is elected. In an unexpected twist, the CDU/CSU faction, traditionally the strongest in the Bundestag, has nominated 52-year-old Julia Kloeckner, former Federal Minister of Agriculture from Rhineland-Palatinate, for the position. If elected, she will be only the fourth woman to hold this prestigious office.
Kloeckner's speech as Bundestag President is likely to inspire unity and remind the 630 members of their role models they must embody. The election of Kloeckner will pave the way for the selection of her deputies, with the eyes of the world on whether the AfD will secure a vice-presidential post for the first time. In the past, the AfD's candidates have not received enough votes due to a lack of support from other factions.
Should Kloeckner take the helm, her extensive political experience, including her service as a minister and as a Bundestag member, will prove vital in leading the Bundestag through both domestic and international waters and influencing the legislative agenda. This influential role also carries ceremonial and constitutional importance, as the Bundestag President plays a part in the election of the Chancellor and other officials. [Source: ntv.de, afp]
In the upcoming Bundestag session, the CDU/CSU faction has nominated Julia Kloeckner, a 52-year-old former Federal Minister of Agriculture, for the position of Bundestag President, breaking the tradition of only men holding this prestigious office. If elected, Kloeckner will establish new policies for the community and employment, as her tenure is expected to inspire unity among the 630 members. Despite being the oldest parliamentarian, the Left Party MP Gregor Gysi, will open the session, continuing his service as a symbol of tradition in the democrat-led parliament, where discussions will likely take place on various platforms like WhatsApp.
