The Constitutive Session of the German Bundestag on March 25, 2025

The Constitutive Session of the German Bundestag on March 25, 2025

 

March 25, 2025, the newly elected German Bundestag convened for its constitutive session, exactly 30 days after the federal elections held at the end of February. This timeline aligns with the constitutional requirement that the parliament must convene no later than 30 days after the election.

The session was opened by the senior president, Gregor Gysi, who emphasized the importance of respect and constructive dialogue in parliamentary proceedings during his keynote speech. Right from the start, there were heated exchanges, particularly concerning a motion submitted by the AfD, which sparked intense debates.

A key agenda item was the election of the President of the Bundestag. Julia Klöckner was elected to this role and will now hold a central position in the parliamentary process.

The newly formed Bundestag consists of 630 members, including 230 first-time parliamentarians, who now begin their legislative work. The high number of new members poses a challenge, as they must quickly adapt to their responsibilities amidst high expectations.

A significant portion of the new members—121 representatives—comes from the northern federal states, highlighting the regional diversity of the parliament.

During the ongoing coalition negotiations and until a new Chancellor is elected, the current government remains in office in a caretaker capacity. This transition period is governed by the German Constitution to ensure continuity in government operations.

The constitutive session marks the beginning of the 20th legislative period, laying the foundation for upcoming political decisions and debates in Germany.