Bundestag decides: Committees for everyone - AfD protests violently!

Bundestag decides: Committees for everyone - AfD protests violently!

Berlin, Deutschland - On June 5, 2025, the Bundestag approved an interpretation decision by the committee for the election test, immunity and rules of procedure. This decision was made with votes from the factions of the CDU/CSU, SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Greens and the Left, while only the AfD faction was right. The decision refers to the right of election for the chair and the deputy chairman of the permanent committees in the access procedure.

The decision is based on a report by the Procedure Committee (21/303) and admits that a faction in the access procedure may not receive the right to propose for both positions in the same committee. This is in accordance with decades of parliamentary practice, which prefers a different group of parliamentary group of chair and deputy chair. Committee meetings, especially those on June 1, have confirmed this regulation.

background of the decision

The committee chair Macit Karaahmetoğlu (SPD) and the coalition factions emphasize the high priority of the different group of fraction. One concern that the Union faction has also brought forward is the avoidance of vacancies that can arise if a faction occupies both positions. This division is intended to ensure the ability to act. The SPD also sees a possible restriction in the ability to act of the committees if both positions are occupied by the same faction.

The Green Group spokesman emphasizes that existing practice binds all factions and there is no exclusion of the opposition. On the other hand, the AfD criticizes the decision and sees a lack of reasons for the election decision. It emphasizes that the non -election of certain candidates is the cause of vacancies.

The role of the committees in the Bundestag

The subject work of the Bundestag is largely organized in the committees that are technically organized compared to the political groups. Examples include the legal committee, the budget committee and the petition committee. The composition of these committees is based on the parliamentary group proporz, which means that the occupation must reflect the ratio of the political groups in the plenary. This is referred to as the principle of mirror image.

The committee chair is of constitutional importance because it can affect parliamentary control rights of a minority. Despite this, a committee chairman has the same voting right as other members. The naming of committee members usually lies with the factions, while the Bundestag decides on the establishment of committees as part of its ordinance autonomy. The committee for external matters and the petition committee are constitutionally prescribed under constitutional law.

The new decision of the Bundestag shows how important the distribution of power and responsibility is within the parliamentary structures. This ensures that the different political views also come into play in the operational business of the committees.