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President of the
Federal Council of the Federal Republic of Germany
Seal of the Bundesrat
Incumbent
Manuela Schwesig
since 1 November 2023
Legislative Branch of the
German Federal Government
Seat Berlin, Germany
Appointer Bundesrat of Germany
Term lengthOne year
Constituting instrument German Basic Law
Inaugural holder Karl Arnold
Formation1949
Website Official Website
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In Germany, the President of the Bundesrat or President of the Federal Council (German: Bundesratspräsident) is the chairperson ( speaker) of the Bundesrat (Federal Council). The president is elected by the Bundesrat for a term of one year (usually from November 1 to October 31 in the next year). Traditionally, the presidency of the Bundesrat rotates among the leaders of the sixteen state governments. This is however only an established practice; theoretically the Bundesrat is free to elect any member it chooses, and a president could also be re-elected (which has happened once, in 1957). As well as acting as a chairperson, the president of the Bundesrat is ex officio deputy of the Federal President. The President of the German Federal Council is 4th in the German order of precedence. In addition, the main celebration of German Unity Day is traditionally held in the state that holds the presidency.

The president of the Bundesrat convenes and chairs plenary sessions of the body and is formally responsible for representing the Federal Republic in the Bundesrat. The president is aided by two vice presidents who play an advisory role and deputise in the president's absence. The three together constitute the presidium of the Bundesrat.

The current president of the Bundesrat is Manuela Schwesig, the Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, whose one-year term started on 1 November 2023.

Election

The Basic Law provides that "the Bundesrat elects its President for one year" (Art. 52.1). In order to be elected, a nominee needs a majority of votes in the Bundesrat (currently 35 of 69).

In practice the position rotates among the states equally, following a constitutional convention known as the “Königstein agreement” (Königsteiner Vereinbarung). The position rotates from one state to another in an order determined by population, the presidency descending from the most populous state to the least. The order is updated based on the newest census-data everytime a rotation has been completed.

The Königsstein agreement also states that, if the sitting President of the Bundesrat exits his office as Minister-President, by losing a state election, resignation, or death, the new Minister-President of that state is elected President of the Bundesrat subsequently, but only to complete their predecessors term. The last time this occurred was in April 1999, when Hans Eichel, President of the Bundesrat and Minister-President of Hesse, had lost the 1999 Hesse state election and his successor Roland Koch served the end of his term until October 1999. The current order of rotation of the presidency of the Bundesrat is as follows:

  1. North Rhine-Westphalia
  2. Bavaria
  3. Baden-Württemberg
  4. Lower Saxony
  5. Hesse
  6. Saxony
  7. Rhineland-Palatinate
  8. Berlin
  9. Schleswig-Holstein
  10. Brandenburg
  11. Saxony-Anhalt
  12. Thuringia
  13. Hamburg
  14. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  15. Saarland
  16. Bremen

Deputy to the Federal President

Article 57 of the Basic Law provides that:

If the Federal President is unable to perform his duties, or if his office falls prematurely vacant, the President of the Bundesrat shall exercise his powers.

If the office of the Federal President falls vacant, the President of the Bundesrat fills in as acting President. While doing so, they do not continue to exercise the role of chair of the Bundesrat. [1] If the president resigns, dies, or is removed from office, a successor is elected within thirty days.

Three Presidents of the Bundesrat have served as acting Presidents:

  1. Karl Arnold (from 7 September 1949 to 12 September 1949 after he was elected as President of the Bundesrat and before Theodor Heuss was elected as the first President of Germany. With a tenure of only six days he is yet the shortest serving head of state in German history)
  2. Jens Böhrnsen (from 31 May 2010 to 30 June 2010 after the resignation of Horst Köhler and before the election of Christian Wulff)
  3. Horst Seehofer (from 17 February 2012 to 18 March 2012 after the resignation of Christian Wulff and before the election of Joachim Gauck)

If the Federal President is abroad on a state visit the President of the Bundesrat does not assume all of the Federal President's responsibilities but may "deputise" for him or her, performing on the Federal President's behalf merely those tasks that require his or her physical presence, such as the signing of documents. [2]

List of presidents

Political Party

   CDU    SPD    CSU    FDP    Green    Left

No. Portrait President of the Bundesrat Took office Left office Time in office Party State
1
Karl Arnold
Arnold, Karl Karl Arnold
(1901–1958)		7 September 19498 September 19501 year, 1 day CDU North Rhine-Westphalia
2
Hans Ehard
Ehard, Hans Hans Ehard
(1887–1980)		8 September 19507 September 1951364 days CSU Bavaria
3
Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf
Kopf, Hinrich Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf
(1893–1961)		7 September 19516 September 1952365 days SPD Lower Saxony
4
Reinhold Maier
Maier, Reinhold Reinhold Maier
(1889–1971)		7 September 19526 September 1953364 days FDP Baden-Württemberg
5
Georg August Zinn
Zinn, Georg Georg August Zinn
(1901–1976)		7 September 19536 September 1954364 days SPD Hesse
6
Peter Altmeier
Altmeier, Peter Peter Altmeier
(1899–1977)		7 September 19546 September 1955364 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
7
Kai-Uwe von Hassel
Hassel, Kai Kai-Uwe von Hassel
(1913–1997)		7 September 19556 September 1956365 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
8
Kurt Sieveking
Sieveking, Kurt Kurt Sieveking
(1897–1986)		7 September 195631 October 1957 [a]1 year, 54 days CDU Hamburg
9
Willy Brandt
Brandt, Willy Willy Brandt
(1913–1992)		1 November 195731 October 1958364 days SPD West Berlin
10
Wilhelm Kaisen
Kaisen, Wilhelm Wilhelm Kaisen
(1887–1979)		1 November 195831 October 1959364 days SPD Bremen
11
Franz Josef Röder
Röder, Franz Franz Josef Röder
(1909–1979)		1 November 195931 October 1960365 days CDU Saarland
12
Franz Meyers
Meyers, Franz Franz Meyers
(1908–2002)		1 November 196031 October 1961365 days CDU North Rhine-Westphalia
13
(2)
Hans Ehard
Ehard, Hans Hans Ehard
(1887–1980)		1 November 196131 October 1962364 days CSU Bavaria
14
Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kiesinger, Kurt Kurt Georg Kiesinger
(1904–1988)		1 November 196231 October 1963364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
15
Georg Diederichs
Diederichs, Georg Georg Diederichs
(1900–1983)		1 November 196331 October 1964364 days SPD Lower Saxony
16
(5)
Georg August Zinn
Zinn, Georg Georg August Zinn
(1901–1976)		1 November 196431 October 1965364 days SPD Hesse
17
(6)
Peter Altmeier
Altmeier, Peter Peter Altmeier
(1899–1977)		1 November 196531 October 1966364 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
18
Helmut Lemke
Lemke, Helmut Helmut Lemke
(1907–1990)		1 November 196631 October 1967364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
19
Klaus Schütz
Schütz, Klaus Klaus Schütz
(1926–2012)		1 November 196731 October 1968365 days SPD West Berlin
20
Herbert Weichmann
Weichmann, Herbert Herbert Weichmann
(1896–1983)		1 November 196831 October 1969364 days SPD Hamburg
21
(11)
Franz Josef Röder
Röder, Franz Franz Josef Röder
(1909–1979)		1 November 196931 October 1970364 days CDU Saarland
22
Hans Koschnick
Koschnick, Hans Hans Koschnick
(1929–2016)		1 November 197031 October 1971364 days SPD Bremen
23
Heinz Kühn
Kühn, Heinz Heinz Kühn
(1912–1992)		1 November 197131 October 1972365 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
24
Alfons Goppel
Goppel, Alfons Alfons Goppel
(1905–1991)		1 November 197231 October 1973364 days CSU Bavaria
25
Hans Filbinger
Filbinger, Hans Hans Filbinger
(1913–2007)		1 November 197331 October 1974364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
26
Alfred Kubel
Kubel, Alfred Alfred Kubel
(1909–1999)		1 November 197431 October 1975364 days SPD Lower Saxony
27
Albert Osswald
Osswald, Albert Albert Osswald
(1919–1996)		1 November 197520 October 1976
(membership ended) [b]		354 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 20 October to 3 December 1976.
28
Bernhard Vogel
Vogel, Bernhard Bernhard Vogel
(born 1932)		3 December 197631 October 1977321 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
29
Gerhard Stoltenberg
Stoltenberg, Gerhard Gerhard Stoltenberg
(1928–2001)		1 November 197731 October 1978364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
30
Dietrich Stobbe
Stobbe, Dietrich Dietrich Stobbe
(1938–2011)		1 November 197831 October 1979364 days SPD West Berlin
31
Hans-Ulrich Klose
Klose, Hans Hans-Ulrich Klose
(1937–2023)		1 November 197931 October 1980365 days SPD Hamburg
32
Werner Zeyer
Zeyer, Werner Werner Zeyer
(1929–2000)		1 November 198031 October 1981364 days CDU Saarland
33
(22)
Hans Koschnick
Koschnick, Hans Hans Koschnick
(1929–2016)		1 November 198131 October 1982364 days SPD Bremen
34
Johannes Rau
Rau, Johannes Johannes Rau
(1931–2006)		1 November 198231 October 1983364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
35
Franz Josef Strauss
Strauß, Franz Franz Josef Strauss
(1915–1988)		1 November 198331 October 1984365 days CSU Bavaria
36
Lothar Späth
Späth, Lothar Lothar Späth
(1937–2016)		1 November 198431 October 1985364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
37
Ernst Albrecht
Albrecht, Ernst Ernst Albrecht
(1930–2014)		1 November 198531 October 1986364 days CDU Lower Saxony
38
Holger Börner
Börner, Holger Holger Börner
(1931–2006)		1 November 198624 April 1987
(membership ended) [c]		174 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 24 April to 15 May 1987.
39
Walter Wallmann
Wallmann, Walter Walter Wallmann
(1932–2013)		15 May 198731 October 1987169 days CDU Hesse
40
(28)
Bernhard Vogel
Vogel, Bernhard Bernhard Vogel
(born 1932)		1 November 198731 October 1988365 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
41
Björn Engholm
Engholm, Björn Björn Engholm
(born 1939)		1 November 198831 October 1989364 days SPD Schleswig-Holstein
42
Walter Momper
Momper, Walter Walter Momper
(born 1945)		1 November 198931 October 1990364 days SPD West Berlin
(until 2 October 1990)
Berlin
(3–31 October 1990)
43
Henning Voscherau
Voscherau, Henning Henning Voscherau
(1941–2016)		1 November 199031 October 1991364 days SPD Hamburg
44
Alfred Gomolka
Gomolka, Alfred Alfred Gomolka
(1942–2020)		1 November 199119 March 1992
(membership ended) [d]		139 days CDU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The office was vacant from 19 March to 15 May 1992.
45
Berndt Seite
Seite, Berndt Berndt Seite
(born 1940)		15 May 199231 October 1992169 days CDU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
46
Oskar Lafontaine
Lafontaine, Oskar Oskar Lafontaine
(born 1943)		1 November 199231 October 1993364 days SPD Saarland
47
Klaus Wedemeier
Wedemeier, Klaus Klaus Wedemeier
(born 1944)		1 November 199331 October 1994364 days SPD Bremen
48
(34)
Johannes Rau
Rau, Johannes Johannes Rau
(1931–2006)		1 November 199431 October 1995364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
49
Edmund Stoiber
Stoiber, Edmund Edmund Stoiber
(born 1941)		1 November 199531 October 1996365 days CSU Bavaria
50
Erwin Teufel
Teufel, Erwin Erwin Teufel
(born 1939)		1 November 199631 October 1997364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
51
Gerhard Schröder
Schröder, Gerhard Gerhard Schröder
(born 1944)		1 November 199727 October 1998
(resigned to become Chancellor) [e]		360 days SPD Lower Saxony
The office was vacant from 27 October to 1 November 1998.
52
Hans Eichel
Eichel, Hans Hans Eichel
(born 1941)		1 November 19987 April 1999
(membership ended) [f]		157 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 7 April to 30 April 1999.
53
Roland Koch
Koch, Roland Roland Koch
(born 1958)		30 April 199931 October 1999184 days CDU Hesse
54
Kurt Biedenkopf
Biedenkopf, Kurt Kurt Biedenkopf
(1930–2021)		1 November 199931 October 2000365 days CDU Saxony
55
Kurt Beck
Beck, Kurt Kurt Beck
(born 1949)		1 November 200031 October 2001364 days SPD Rhineland-Palatinate
56
Klaus Wowereit
Wowereit, Klaus Klaus Wowereit
(born 1953)		1 November 200131 October 2002364 days SPD Berlin
57
Wolfgang Böhmer
Böhmer, Wolfgang Wolfgang Böhmer
(born 1936)		1 November 200231 October 2003364 days CDU Saxony-Anhalt
58
Dieter Althaus
Althaus, Dieter Dieter Althaus
(born 1958)		1 November 200331 October 2004365 days CDU Thuringia
59
Matthias Platzeck
Platzeck, Matthias Matthias Platzeck
(born 1953)		1 November 200431 October 2005364 days SPD Brandenburg
60
Peter Harry Carstensen
Carstensen, Peter Peter Harry Carstensen
(born 1947)		1 November 200531 October 2006364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
61
Harald Ringstorff
Ringstorff, Harald Harald Ringstorff
(1939–2020)		1 November 200631 October 2007364 days SPD Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
62
Ole von Beust
Beust, Ole Ole von Beust
(born 1955)		1 November 200731 October 2008365 days CDU Hamburg
63
Peter Müller
Müller, Peter Peter Müller
(born 1955)		1 November 200831 October 2009364 days CDU Saarland
64
Jens Böhrnsen
Böhrnsen, Jens Jens Böhrnsen
(born 1949)		1 November 200931 October 2010364 days SPD Bremen
65
Hannelore Kraft
Kraft, Hannelore Hannelore Kraft
(born 1961)		1 November 201031 October 2011364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
66
Horst Seehofer
Seehofer, Horst Horst Seehofer
(born 1949)		1 November 201131 October 2012365 days CSU Bavaria
67
Winfried Kretschmann
Kretschmann, Winfried Winfried Kretschmann
(born 1948)		1 November 201231 October 2013364 days Greens Baden-Württemberg
68
Stephan Weil
Weil, Stephan Stephan Weil
(born 1958)		1 November 201331 October 2014364 days SPD Lower Saxony
69
Volker Bouffier
Bouffier, Volker Volker Bouffier
(born 1951)		1 November 201431 October 2015364 days CDU Hesse
70
Stanislaw Tillich
Tillich, Stanislaw Stanislaw Tillich
(born 1959)		1 November 201531 October 2016365 days CDU Saxony
71
Malu Dreyer
Dreyer, Malu Malu Dreyer
(born 1961)		1 November 201631 October 2017364 days SPD Rhineland-Palatinate
72
Michael Müller
Müller, Michael Michael Müller
(born 1964)		1 November 201731 October 2018364 days SPD Berlin
73
Daniel Günther
Günther, Daniel Daniel Günther
(born 1973)		1 November 201831 October 2019364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
74
Dietmar Woidke
Woidke, Dietmar Dietmar Woidke
(born 1961)		1 November 201931 October 2020365 days SPD Brandenburg
75
Reiner Haseloff
Haseloff, Reiner Reiner Haseloff
(born 1954)		1 November 202031 October 2021364 days CDU Saxony-Anhalt
76
Bodo Ramelow
Ramelow, Bodo Bodo Ramelow
(born 1956)		1 November 202131 October 2022364 days Left Thuringia
77
Peter Tschentscher
Tschentscher, Peter Peter Tschentscher
(born 1966)		1 November 202231 October 2023364 days SPD Hamburg
78
Manuela Schwesig
Schwesig, Manuela Manuela Schwesig
(born 1974)		1 November 2023Incumbent177 days SPD Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Otto Suhr was elected as President of the Bundesrat in July 1957 but died on 30 August 1957, before his term of office began. In order to prevent an imminent vacancy in the presidency at the beginning of the new fiscal year on September 7, 1957, the incumbent, the First Mayor of Hamburg Kurt Sieveking was then re-elected as President of the Bundesrat on 6 September 1957. In its 184th session on 25 October 1957, the Bundesrat set a new fiscal year period (1 November 1 to 31 October) and elected Willy Brandt as President of the German Bundesrat for the fiscal year beginning on 1 November 1957.
  2. ^ On October 20, 1976, Albert Osswald had to leave the Hessian state government and thus the Bundesrat.
  3. ^ On 24 April 1987, Holger Börner had to leave the Hessian state government and thus the Bundesrat.
  4. ^ On 19 March 1992, Alfred Gomolka had to leave the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state government and thus the Bundesrat.
  5. ^ On 27 October 1998, Gerhard Schröder resigned as Minister President of Lower Saxony and thus as President of the German Bundesrat, as he was appointed as Chancellor of Germany on the same day.
  6. ^ On 7 April 1999, Hans Eichel had to leave the Hessian state government and thus the Bundesrat.

References

  1. ^ "Geschäftsordnung des Bundesrates" [Rules of Procedure of the Bundesrat] (PDF). §7 (1). Retrieved 7 November 2016. Die Vizepräsidenten vertreten den Präsidenten im Falle seiner Verhinderung oder bei vorzeitiger Beendigung seines Amtes nach Maßgabe ihrer Reihenfolge. Ein Fall der Verhinderung liegt auch vor, solange der Präsident des Bundesrates nach Artikel 57 des Grundgesetzes die Befugnisse des Bundespräsidenten wahrnimmt.
  2. ^ "Bouffier und Tillich vertreten Bundespräsidenten".

External links

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