Updated:
The Bundestag, which has grown to 736 members, is to become smaller again. The new President of the Bundestag Bas does not want to put a reform on the back burner – and is relying on support.
Berlin – The new President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas wants to tackle the largely unsuccessful electoral reform very soon after the formation of the government.
“I feel in the parliamentary groups, including in the Union, the insight and the serious will that the parliament can not grow any further in the future,” said the Social Democrat, following on from CDU politician Wolfgang Schäuble, of the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” (Saturday) . “I’m waiting for the result of the coalition negotiations. Then I would invite the parliamentary groups for talks shortly after the formation of the government. ”The reinstatement of the electoral law commission is also an option.
According to the federal electoral law, the target size of the Bundestag is 598 members. If a party receives more direct mandates than it is entitled to after its second vote result, the competition receives compensatory mandates, so that the total number increases: in the last electoral term to 709 MPs, now to 736.
Reform proposals have failed so far
The Greens, the FDP, the Left and the SPD had already presented reform proposals in the previous electoral term, which failed mainly due to the resistance of the CSU. Ultimately, it was only agreed to forego the settlement of up to three overhang mandates. “Basically, all ideas are ready on the table. Now it’s time to decide, ”said Bas.
Bas’ deputy Petra Pau (left) and Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) are also calling for a quick reform of the electoral law. Pau told the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe (Online Saturday, Print Monday): “Party political egoisms must now take a back seat, instead the parties must immediately talk about a lawful solution so that a hopefully widely accepted amendment can be passed by 2022 at the latest.” Kubicki said, on the basis of the proposal by the FDP, the Left and the Greens from the previous election period, an amendment with the SPD will probably be possible.
Bas did not initially want to commit to the size of the parliament in the future. With regard to the target size of 598 mandates, she said: “I do not take the position that we absolutely have to reduce the Bundestag to this size.”
Bas also supports proposals by the traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP, which are willing to form a coalition, to reduce the minimum age in the federal elections from 18 to 16 years. If one wanted to keep the voter turnout high, one had to ensure that as many first-time voters as possible were mobilized. dpa
#Bärbel #Bas #formation #government #tackle #electoral #reform