Julia Klöckner against cabinet: Now she wants to force ministers to be present in the Bundestag
In a letter to Chancellor's Office Minister Michael Meister, the President of the Bundestag complains about empty government rows in the plenary session and calls for improvement.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) is concerned, as she writes in a letter to her party colleagues and Federal Chancellery Minister Michael Meister. The reason: The government bench has been virtually empty at times. In the letter, which was obtained by the news agency dpa, Klöckner specifically criticizes the frequent absences of ministers from parliament and calls for improvement.
"In the first weeks of this new legislative period, I note with concern that the government bench in the plenary session is sometimes very sparsely occupied," Klöckner wrote. "An appropriate and continuous presence of the federal government " is "essential" for a lively discourse and constructive cooperation between the executive and legislative branches.
To ensure a sufficiently large plenary session, Julia Klöckner proposes setting a minimum number of cabinet members present in the plenary session. Klöckner further writes that the Presidium of the Bundestag and the parliamentary groups are "unwaveringly of the opinion" that at least two federal ministers should be present during each plenary session.
In conclusion, Bundestag President Klöckner requests that "appropriate measures be taken to ensure the permanent and effective representation of the Federal Government in Bundestag sessions." As of publication, no ministers have commented on the warning letter and the requested change in attendance.
But this is just one of several innovations that CDU politician Klöckner intends to address during the legislative period. In her first speech as President of the Bundestag , she announced that she would pay close attention to "ensuring that we cultivate civilized coexistence, and if we don't, then we'll learn to do so."
She will not only monitor speaking times, but also "listen" to what is being said at the lectern and in the chamber. "And here, too, there is a very clear benchmark for me: decency." Klöckner also wants to reform the rules of procedure. However, the form is currently unclear. Possible options include establishing "minimum standards for parliamentary speeches" or tightening the rules of order.
Berliner-zeitung
