Overview

• Henning Otte, a CDU politician and former deputy chair of the Defense Committee, has been officially nominated as the next Wehrbeauftragter by the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition.
• The Bundestag is scheduled to vote on Otte's appointment on May 23, 2025, with his five-year term to begin upon confirmation.
• Otte will succeed Eva Högl of the SPD, who has held the position since May 2020, overseeing soldier rights and military oversight.
• The Wehrbeauftragter serves as an independent advocate for Bundeswehr soldiers, monitoring their rights and leadership principles under Article 45b of the German Basic Law.
• Otte brings extensive experience as a reserve officer and defense policy spokesperson, signaling continuity in the office's mission of parliamentary military oversight.