The SPD is heading for a decision on the next President of the Bundestag. A spokesman for the parliamentary group confirmed this on Sunday. According to information from Süddeutsche Zeitung it is expected that parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich will present his application to the lower group leaders at a dinner on Monday. Mützenich is considered a promising candidate within the parliamentary group.
The 20th Bundestag will meet for its constituent session on October 26th, during which the new Bundestag President is to be elected. The SPD is allowed to occupy the post as the strongest parliamentary group.
Although Mützenich is considered very suitable for the office, his election would otherwise put the SPD in a mess – because that would mean the next top post would be filled by men. In addition, a male successor will be given good chances for the new parliamentary group chairmanship to be assigned – the party left Matthias Miersch. Whether it will come down to him, however, is open, according to information from the SZ, there is internal resistance on the part of some SPD women. There should be more talks this week.
If both candidates actually passed, the SPD would provide a male Federal President, Bundestag President as well as parliamentary group leader and parliamentary manager in addition to the Chancellor. Frank-Walter Steinmeier has already publicly indicated that he is aiming for a second term as Federal President. During the election campaign, Scholz had promised to fill his cabinet equally. Obviously, this does not apply to other offices.