Overview

• In her June letter to Chancellor’s Office Minister Michael Meister, Klöckner raised alarm over frequent cabinet absences during plenary sessions.
• She pointed out that the government bench was “very weakly” staffed during the initial weeks of the new legislative term.
• Klöckner proposed a binding requirement for at least two federal ministers to attend every plenary meeting.
• Her demand underscores broader efforts to bolster parliamentary accountability after the 2025 election ushered in a slimmer, more diverse Bundestag.
• She argued that consistent ministerial presence is essential for effective oversight and cooperation between the executive and the legislature.