Overview

• Julia Klöckner (CDU) was elected Bundestagspräsidentin with 382 out of 630 votes, becoming the fourth woman to hold this position.
• Klöckner's inaugural speech called for a 'civilized discourse' in parliamentary debates and proposed revisiting the 2023 electoral reform to ensure all directly elected candidates receive mandates.
• The AfD's parliamentary strength has doubled, reinforcing political polarization, while their candidate for vice president, Gerold Otten, failed to secure enough votes.
• Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet were formally dismissed but will continue in a caretaker role until a new government is formed.
• Gregor Gysi (Die Linke), as Alterspräsident, opened the session with a 40-minute speech covering a wide range of topics, receiving mixed reactions from Bundestag members.