Sunday 17th October 2021
Walter-Borjans names names
SPD wants to provide presidents of the Bundestag
Traditionally, the parliamentary group with the most MPs also provides the President of the Bundestag. SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans rejects speculation that it could be different in the coming legislative period and is already proposing a possible candidate.
SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans has brought the SPD parliamentary group chairman Rolf Mützenich into play for the office of Bundestag President. “There are a number of suitable women and men in the SPD parliamentary group, starting with our parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich,” said Walter-Borjans of “Bild am Sonntag”. The SPD chairman reaffirmed the SPD’s claim to the office of President of the Bundestag.
He contradicted speculation that the post could be transferred to the FDP or the Greens. “The largest parliamentary group traditionally provides the President of the Bundestag, and this time we are. There is no reason to change anything,” said Walter-Borjans.
With Mützenich as President of the Bundestag, Olaf Scholz as Chancellor and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, three men would be at the top of the state. Walter-Borjans does not see this as an obstacle: “All three are outstanding personalities, the three offices are not related to each other. We will deal with them responsibly.”
The President of the Bundestag chairs the German Federal Parliament. It is the second highest state office in Germany. Wolfgang Schäuble has held the office since 2017. The last incumbent appointed by the SPD was Wolfgang Thierse in the years 2000 to 2005. There is no statutory regulation as to which parliamentary group provides the President of the Bundestag. So far, however, it has always been the parliamentary group with the most members in the Bundestag.