The parliamentary president, currently former finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, is elected by the full assembly, and traditionally comes from the largest party group. The Social Democrats would hold all three offices if Bas, Steinmeier and Scholz were confirmed to the roles. The proposal to name Bas as Bundestag president improves Steinmeier’s chances of staying on as federal president. However, if the Bundestag presidency nevertheless goes to a man, it would strengthen the argument that the next government should include the country’s first female federal president. Bas, who has been deputy leader of the SPD’s parliamentary group since 2019, would be the third woman to serve as Bundestag president.

Source: MetroXpress January 01, 1970 00:00 UTC