A large majority of the SPD parliamentary group is strongly advocating for gender parity in elections. According to a joint declaration signed by 80 SPD members, “An electoral reform lacking parity would fall short of the requirements of our time,” the declaration states. These signatories argue that achieving gender parity is both a constitutional mandate and a political necessity, concluding with the urgent demand: “Let us introduce a parity-based electoral system. Now.”
The initiative gained traction through Carmen Wegge, Chair of the SPD Women, Jasmina Hostert, SPD parliamentary policy director for women, and Bundestag Vice President Josephine Ortleb. Wegge told the publication that changing the electoral law is essential if the party wants to ensure that more women influence politics in the future. She noted that simply having one woman in the coalition committee is insufficient, referring specifically to Bärbel Bas, the SPD working minister and co-party leader, who also signed the appeal. Wegge declared that the Bundestag should be composed of fifty percent women.
The SPD party leadership is similarly insisting on a parity mechanism during the electoral reform scheduled within the coalition agreement, ideally ensuring equal representation of women in parliament. According to magazine information, the SPD Presidium plans to endorse the “Parität Jetzt” initiative on Monday. This initiative demands a parity-based electoral system that guarantees the equal political participation of women and men in the German Bundestag. The SPD Presidium, the party’s innermost leadership circle, is aligning itself with this demand during the second action day of “Parität Jetzt” on June 24, affirming that the goal of any electoral law reform must be the realization of parity.
