Hendrikje Klein of The Left has been elected as the new president of the Berlin House of Representatives. She secured 149 votes during the inaugural session, facing opposition from 98 representatives, while nine abstained.
Klein marks a historical achievement, becoming the first representative from The Left to hold this position in Berlin. She is also the third woman to serve in the role, following Hanna-Renate Laurien (CDU, 1991-1995) and Cornelia Seibeld (CDU, 2023-2026), though she is noted as the first representative from the East. Having been a member of the House for The Left since 2016, she previously served on the investigation committee related to the grant money scandal.
During a meeting with the parliamentary factions on Tuesday, Klein announced her intentions to foster broad debate while emphasizing the need for a respectful and consistent tone. She also noted that the parliament plans to open its doors to school classes and first-time voters.
Meanwhile, the election for two vice-presidents is scheduled for the inaugural session. The CDU and AfD put forward these individuals as candidates from their respective factions. Nominees include the current President, Cornelia Seibeld (CDU), and AfD politician Martin Trefzer. However, The Left, CDU, the Greens, and the SPD all opposed the election of an AfD politician to the role. As a result, the position may remain vacant for the time being.
The new legislature consists of 153 members, six fewer than in the previous term. The Left holds 45 seats, though initially presents only 44 to the faction due to the absence of one elected representative because of illness. Other party distribution includes the CDU with 33 seats, the AfD with 29, the Greens with 25, and the SPD with 21. Close to half of the representatives are new arrivals to the parliament. Women currently account for approximately 38 percent of the representatives in the House.
