Convening Germany's New Parliament
September 19, 2005
The party chiefs of the Social Democrats, Christian Union, and Free Democrats all held meetings in Berlin on Monday, Sept. 19. The Christian Union's Bavaian sister party, the CSU, gathered in Munich. These internal discussions will determine each party's preferences for a ruling coalition. By the end of the day it may come to exploratory talks between parties. The actual coalition negotiations, however, will take place in the near future.
The FDP fraction will hold a special meeting with the "old" and "new" members of parliament on Monday. The SPD, CDU, and Greens plan a similar meeting for Tuesday.
Meeting on Wednesday as usual
The federal cabinet, which remains in office at least until the newly elected Bundestag convenes, will meet as scheduled on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. The exact date and time when the new Bundestag will open its legislative term is still up in the air. The deadline remains Oct. 18, even with the delayed election in Dresden on Oct. 2.
The official election of the chancellor by the Bundestag is also without a definite date. Should the Bundestag fail to elect a chancellor in its first session, the current chancellor is called upon, according to Article 69 of the Basic Law, at the "behest of the federal president" to continue the duties of his office until the election of a chancellor.
The oldest parliamentarian presides
The newly-elected Bundestag will be convened by its former president, Wolfgang Thierse. The SPD politician will not preside, however. Instead, the parliamentarian "most advanced in years, or, should he reject it, the next oldest member of parliament" chairs the inaugural session. Interior Minister Otto Schily, currently 73 years old, was the chairman by seniority in 2002, and will once again likely fulfill that duty.
The chairman by seniority also has the duty to name members to preliminary posts as secretaries and to call on all by name. Then the ability of the Bundestag to reach resolutions can be tested. The new president of the Bundestag and his deputy are then elected in seperate, secret ballots. According to the Bundestag by-laws, each fraction is represented by a vice-president. The new chancellor will likely only be elected in the second session of the new parliament.