(de-news.net) – Julia Klöckner (CDU) has been elected President of the 21st German Bundestag. During the inaugural session, she received 382 out of 622 votes. Previously, Klöckner had served as Federal Minister of Agriculture (2018–2021), introducing policies like the male chick culling ban and Nutri-Score. She also held roles as CDU treasurer and economic policy spokesperson.

In her inaugural speech, Klöckner emphasized impartiality and civility in her duties, urging resilience. She pledged to uphold parliamentary decorum and foster constructive discourse. She emphasized her commitment to fostering respectful debates and acknowledged that disagreements are inherent to democracy. Democracy is demanding, requiring tolerance and adherence to boundaries. However, the emphasis lies in conducting discussions with civility and finding compromises. She firmly denied any ideological alignment between the CDU and the AfD.

Regarding her legacy as Bundestag President, Klöckner expressed that her focus is on fulfilling her duties rather than making history. She noted the significant changes in the Bundestag’s seating arrangement, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction and mistrust among citizens towards politics and its institutions.

Klöckner, from Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, first joined the Bundestag in 2002 and returned in 2021. She is the fourth woman to hold the office of President of the first German parliamentary chamber. In state protocol, the office ranks second after the Federal President. The Bundestag President oversees parliamentary sessions, ensuring order and adherence to rules, with authority to sanction members if necessary.