New Bundestag: Klöckner demands voting rights reform for more justice!

New Bundestag: Klöckner demands voting rights reform for more justice!

On March 25, 2025, the new German Bundestag was constituted in a meeting that was opened by the President Gregor Gysi, the longest -serving MP. The meeting took place in the presence of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who took a seat in the guest grandstand. In his opening speech, Gysi emphasized the importance of a respectful manner among MPs and addressed important sociopolitical questions, including secure pensions, tax justice and health care. The ongoing war in Ukraine and the political developments among Donald Trump were also addressed. Gysi also proposed to commit the 8 May 8th as a nationwide legal holiday in the future. However, there was unrest in the plenary hall during his speech, especially when it came to tax rates for Christmas trees.

The constituent session also marked the beginning of a new legislative period, since the government's term of office ends with the constitution of a new Bundestag. Steinmeier plans to hand over the dismissal certificates in the afternoon. Until the appointment of a new government, the members of the current government will remain in office.

new face in the Bundestag

clearly recognizable in the new legislative period is the appointment of Julia Klöckner as the new Bundestag president. With this election, Klöckner becomes the fourth woman in this office, which is traditionally behind that of the Federal President. Annemarie Renger, Rita Süssmuth and Bärbel Bas already held the office in front of her. Klöckner, the former Minister of Agriculture, has already submitted proposals to change the right to vote. Your concern is to ensure that all members of the MPs receive a mandate after 23 candidates received no mandate in the last federal election.

The long way to the right to vote for women

The context of these developments takes a look at the progress of women's voting in Germany. The year 2019 marked the 100th anniversary of women's election law, which came into force through the election to the National Assembly in January 1919. Since then, women have had the right to take part in parliamentary elections as voters and as a candidate. Historically, the struggle for equality and the representation of women in politics remains a central challenge.

A review of the figures shows that 300 women ran for the National Assembly in the first elections, 37 of which received a mandate. In the recent past, the shares of female MPs have increased in the Bundestag-from around 10 % in the 1950s to 31 %. Nevertheless, the discussion about quotas and the uniform representation of women in politics remains up to date. In some federal states such as Brandenburg and Saxony, parity laws were adopted that prescribe an even occupation of election proposals with women and men.