The Powershare of the Presidency: Factions Decide Candidates for Bundestag Vice-President
Political factions determine the nominees for the Vice Presidency position within the Bundestag.
Next up: The newly elected German Bundestag convenes tomorrow, and it appears that Julia Klöckner will be named the President. The vice-presidential positions have also been confirmed, forming the Bundestag presidency in the process.
Following the CDU/CSU's nomination of Julia Klöckner for the presidency, the factions have now put forward their candidates for the vice-presidential posts. Yesterday, the Union faction voted unanimously in favor of Andrea Lindholz, a CSU interior policy expert, for a vice-post.
At 54 years old, Andrea Lindholz—a lawyer previously serving as the deputy faction leader—was a member of the clandestine Parliamentary Control Committee, responsible for overseeing intelligence services, in the last legislative period. In the ongoing coalition negotiations, Lindholz commands responsibility for internal security, law, and migration.
On the SPD side, Josephine Ortleb, the current Parliamentary Business Manager, has been chosen for the vice-presidential role. A 38-year-old Saarbrücken native, Ortleb has been a Bundestag member since 2017 and clinched her direct mandate three times in a row, including against Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in 2021, who was then the CDU chairwoman and the defense minister.
Greens and The Left Choose Familiar Faces
Greens have selected Omid Nouripour, their former party leader, for the vice-presidential position. With a slim victory over current vice-president Katrin Göring-Eckardt, who hoped to continue in the role, and a surprise bid from Claudia Roth, Nouripour explained that he stood for diversity, traditional parliamentary practices, and transparent, citizen-driven politics. A Bundestag member since 2006, Nouripour is known for his expertise in foreign and security policy.
The Left, which enjoyed unexpected success in the recent Bundestag elections, selected Bodo Ramelow, the former Thuringian Minister President, for the post two weeks ago. At the time, faction leader Heidi Reichinnek praised Ramelow for his extensive experience and level-headedness, widely recognized by democratic parties. Ramelow served as Thuringia's Minister President from December 2014 to December 2024 with a brief interruption, and was previously a Bundestag member from 2005 to 2009.
Can AfD Claim a Vice-Presidential Seat?
Five individuals from the AfD indicated a desire to run for the vice-presidency: Malte Kaufmann, Michael Kaufmann, Jochen Haug, Gerold Otten, and Karsten Hilse. Otten will now be the chosen candidate. Having previously failed to secure a vice-presidential seat in January 2023, the 69-year-old former Bundeswehr officer will face similar hurdles in this election, given the tradition of applying a 'cordon sanitaire' to the far-right group[2][5].
Paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Bundestag states, "Each faction of the German Bundestag is represented by at least one Vice-President in the Presidium. Elected is whoever receives the majority of the votes of the members of the Bundestag." Given the history of elections, the AfD has based its demand for a similar position on this rule. However, securing the votes of the other parties remains a considerable challenge for the AfD, as they have failed to do so in the past[5].
Sources: ntv.de, mpa/dpa
- German Bundestag Elections 2025
- German Parliament
- Politics
[1] The relationship between Julia Klöckner and the CDU/CSU during her presidential campaign.Though initial negotiations within the CDU/CSU party were not in Klöckner's favor, she rose above the conflict and was unanimously nominated by the party leadership, ensuring her victory[1].
[2] Repercussions of applying a 'cordon sanitaire' to the AfD.The 'cordon sanitaire' policy, intended to isolate the AfD, has sparked discussions about the democratic limits of party bans and the potential implications for minority rights[2].
[3] The role of the Bundestag Presidium.The Presidium is the highest executive body of the Bundestag, with the Bundestag President, their deputies, and the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups as members[3].
[4] Katrin Göring-Eckardt's response to Nouripour's victory.Though disappointed by losing the bid for the vice-presidential position, Göring-Eckardt remains committed to the Greens and continues her work as the party's budget policy spokesperson[4].
[5] History of AfD's vice-presidential election failures.Since 2017, when the AfD entered the Bundestag, all candidates for the vice-presidency have been unsuccessful due to opposition from other parties[5].
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning the proposed vice-presidents for the Bundestag presidency, as the process progresses.
- It's worth noting that malicious candidates, such as those from the far-right AfD, could face challenges in securing votes for the vice-presidential position, as demonstrated by Gerold Otten's previous unsuccessful bid.
- Despite Klöckner's victory in the CDU/CSU presidential campaign, her relationship with other factions in the Bundestag, particularly with the candidates for the vice-presidential posts, will be crucial for a harmonious term in office.
