Nearly six weeks after the election, the Berlin House of Representatives convened for the first time with its newly formed composition. The session was opened by the president-elect, Kurt Wansner (CDU), on Thursday.
The most critical item on the agenda is expected to be the election of a parliamentary president. The Left Party, which holds the right to nominate due to being the strongest faction, proposed Hendrikje Klein for the position. If elected, Klein would be the first Left Party politician to hold the post in Berlin. While she is the third woman to hold this office-following Hanna-Renate Laurien (CDU, 1991-1995) and Cornelia Seibeld (CDU, 2023-2026)-she would be the first woman from Eastern Germany. She has served in the House of Representatives since 2016 and was previously a member of the investigation committee concerning the funding scandal.
Klein presented herself to the various factions on Tuesday, stating that she intends to allow ample room for debate, though emphasizing the need for collegial interaction. She also signaled that the parliament would be open to groups, such as school classes or first-time voters.
The election for two vice-presidents is scheduled for Thursday. The CDU and the AfD, nominated as the second and third largest factions, have put forward candidates. These include Cornelia Seibeld of the CDU, the current parliamentary president, and AfD politician Martin Trefzer. However, the Left, the CDU, the Greens, and the SPD do not wish to elect an AfD politician as a vice-president, meaning the post could remain vacant for the time being.
The House of Representatives consists of 153 members in this new legislative period, six fewer than before. The Left Party secured 45 seats, though only 44 members from the faction were present at the inaugural session due to the illness of one elected representative.
The CDU won 33 seats, the AfD won 29, the Greens secured 25, and the SPD won 21. Roughly half of the parliament members are new to the body. The overall share of women in the House of Representatives stands at approximately 38 percent.
