Julia Klöckner has been elected as the new president of Germany’s Bundestag parliament, making her only the fourth woman to hold the office since 1949. As a senior politician with the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she is considered a confidante of party leader Friedrich Merz, who described her nomination as “a vital step for our democracy.”
Klöckner, 52, is known for taking strong stances on public debates and has faced controversy in the past. She previously posted a combative statement on Instagram saying there was no need to vote for far-right party AfD, sparking criticism of trivialization and extremism. In 2015, she demanded that refugees integrate into society, while in 2023, she shared false information about dental care costs for asylum-seekers.
Klöckner’s appointment has also been marred by controversy surrounding her previous role as CDU treasurer, which she relinquished before taking on the new position. She is expected to oversee party donations as Bundestag president.
Born into a family of winegrowers from Rhineland-Palatinate, Klöckner began her career as German Wine Queen in 1995 and later led the CDU in her home state from 2010 to 2022. During this time, she served as Federal Agriculture Minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Environmental organizations have criticized Klöckner for ineffective policy making and her ties to the food industry, particularly Nestlé. She has also faced setbacks in her political career, failing to lead the government of Rhineland-Palatinate in 2011 and 2016.
As Bundestag president, Klöckner will chair plenary sessions and supervise laws governing the parliament. She represents the parliament at state visits and commemororative ceremonies. Despite being less experienced than previous presidents like Wolfgang Schäuble, Klöckner’s appointment highlights the ongoing debate about party representation in Germany’s parliament.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/who-is-new-bundestag-president-julia-kl%C3%B6ckner/a-72031466