Urges Klöckner for additional overhaul in the election regulations of the Federal Parliament
In a bid to address concerns about legitimacy and representation in the German Bundestag, the current coalition agreement proposes changes to the voting system. The reforms aim to restore public confidence in the representative function of the Bundestag, which has grown significantly due to the accumulation of overhang and compensatory seats.
The proposed reforms include reducing the size of the Bundestag to prevent further inflation, adjusting the electoral formula for a fairer balance between directly elected district representatives and party list seats, and enhancing representativeness to better reflect the will of the electorate.
The reduction in the Bundestag's size has resulted in a decrease from 735 to 630 seats. The goal is for every constituency winner to be elected to the Bundestag. However, as a result of the reduction, 23 constituency winners did not receive their direct mandate after the early Bundestag election in February.
Julia Klöckner, Bundestag President, has criticized the devaluation of the first vote in the new voting system and has called for a renewed reform of the voting system. Klöckner, however, does not plan to present her own proposal for the voting system reform.
A commission has been set up to present proposals for the new reform by the end of this year. Among the proposals on the table are those that aim to lower the voting age for Bundestag elections from 18 to 16 years (previously rejected by the Union). The SPD and Union may meet halfway in search of a compromise on lowering the voting age.
Not everyone is in favour of the reform, though. A YouGov survey revealed that only 34% of respondents support a renewed reform of the voting system, while 47% want to keep the current voting system. Among those who voted for the CDU or CSU, 50% are in favour of maintaining the existing voting system.
The coalition agreement includes the task of addressing the voting system reform. However, the exact technical details of the new voting system reforms are still being negotiated within the coalition. The focus is on balancing effective governance, proportional representation, and limiting the Bundestag's size to reasonable levels.
The new reform also aims to examine how equal representation of women in parliament can be guaranteed. Three constituencies in Baden-Württemberg and one in Hesse are not represented in the Bundestag due to the voting system change, highlighting the need for a system that ensures fair representation for all.
The reduction was achieved by abolishing surplus and balancing mandates. The coalition seeks to modify how overhang and leveling seats are calculated to ensure a fairer balance between directly elected district representatives and party list seats, improving proportionality without excessive enlargement of the parliament.
The new voting system reforms target the issues raised by both political observers and the constitutional challenges the system has encountered. The goal is to maintain the German principle of proportional representation while improving the Bundestag's functionality, legitimacy, and public trust.
- The proposed reforms in the German Bundestag's voting system, aimed at addressing concerns about legitimacy and representation, also involve policies related to politics and general news, such as the lowering of the voting age for Bundestag elections from 18 to 16 years and the examination of equal representation of women in parliament.
- The new voting system reforms in the German Bundestag, including the adjustment of the electoral formula and the examination of equal representation, are not only political matters but are also subject to legislation and legislative scrutiny, as they seek to maintain proportional representation and improve the Bundestag's functionality, legitimacy, and public trust.
