Overview

• The Ältestenrat approved the new practice on Aigner’s initiative with votes from the CSU, Free Voters, Greens, and SPD, while the AfD opposed it.
• Only the Landtag president will deliver closing words before the summer and winter breaks, with no contributions from the state government or the opposition.
• Parliament officials said no amendment to the rules of procedure was needed because the tradition had existed outside the Geschäftsordnung.
• Bavaria had been the only German state where government and opposition leaders traditionally spoke at the final sitting, a custom typically used for conciliatory remarks and thanks.
• The move follows a summer session in which AfD leader Katrin Ebner-Steiner ignored warnings during a partisan speech, prompting Aigner to cut her microphone, after which the AfD blamed Aigner for the incident.