Hendrik Wüst of the CDU has been elected as the next President of the Federal Council. The state chamber appointed the NRW Minister-President in a rotational manner, succeeding Bremen’s Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte of the SPD.
Bovenschulte previously reviewed his time in office, stating that the Basic Law compels the state’s power and authority to be bound by law and democracy. He emphasized that while political debate in the Federal Council can cover taxes, competencies, and every line item in the budget, the “dignity of man cannot be put to a vote,” according to the SPD politician.
He further explained that a party ban is “not an instrument against uncomfortable opinions nor a substitute for arguments,” yet he also noted that electoral success “is not a blank check.” Bovenschulte stressed that human dignity remains inviolable, even if many people vote for something that challenges it. He warned that if people were to be sorted into first and second class based on their origins, “it would no longer be about ordinary political disagreement. At that point, it would be about the core values of our community. It would be about the basis upon which we argue.”
The position of Federal Council President lasts for one year and begins on November 1st. The primary duties are largely representational. The Federal Council President is responsible for convening the Federal Council’s plenary sessions, leading them, and representing the council at official domestic and international functions.
