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The inauguration of the Social Democratic deputy Bärbel Bas as the new president of the Bundestag marks the beginning of a new era after 16 years of uninterrupted government by the Conservatives. In addition, she will be the third woman in history to hold that position at the beginning of an era where it aims to increase diversity and open the way to new generations of German politicians.
The end of a cycle began in Germany when the expected changes materialized after the elections that took place in September and that gave the victory to the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
One of the most transcendent images of the session was the presence of Angela Merkel, who is going through her last days as Chancellor, sitting in the public gallery. From now on, he exercises his role on an interim basis until the new government finishes forming the coalition and officially designates the Social Democratic leader, Olaf Scholz, in that role.
This Tuesday, the deputy Bärbel Bas was elected as the new president of Parliament to take the place of the conservative Wolfgang Schäuble, the oldest member with 49 years as a legislator and who was Merkel’s finance minister during the euro crisis.
In this way, it will be ensured that Germany’s top three positions (president and chancellor are the others) are not held by men. The 53-year-old politician was elected by 576 favorable votes, 58 abstentions and 90 against in the session to constitute the new Bundestag after the results in last month’s elections.
Bas will be the third woman to hold the post in German history after the social democrat Annemarie Renger – between 1972 and 1976 – and the conservative Rita Süssmuth, who did so for a decade from 1988.
In her first speech as parliamentary president, Bas affirmed that “responsibility is not yet shared equally among all” and said that this will be one of her “special tasks” in the Bundestag. “Diversity is an opportunity for all of us in this house, but also outside of it,” he added.
This new parliamentary composition is unique in the presence of more women and members of ethnic minorities than before. In addition, he will have a lower age range.
The government coalition is close to being confirmed with the presence of the SPD – winner of the elections with 25.7% of the votes -, the Greens and the liberals of the FDP, which predicted that it will focus on modernizing the leading economy in Europe and deepen the fight against climate change.
This front would be more consensual than expected due to the ideological breadth of each party and can give some confirmation of political stability, one of the great fears that arose with the departure of Merkel.
Before the largest Bundestag in history, Schaüble asked to reform the electoral law
The Parliament grew again in the number of representatives and now there will be 736 deputies, a historical figure and higher than the 709 of the previous legislature.
In this context, Schaüble asked in his last speech as president of the Bundestag to review the electoral law to reform it and modify what he believes is an excessive representation that is produced by the additional seats that are distributed between the parties.
On Tuesday afternoon, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will formally dismiss Merkel and her ministers, so they will carry out their activities on an interim basis until the next government is formed.
This new Parliament will not pass any laws until the new authorities are confirmed after the government coalition that will be in Germany is formed and the chancellor is voted.
With Reuters and EFE
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source https://pledgetimes.com/germany-a-new-parliament-with-more-diversity-and-youth-is-formed/
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