The highest decision-making body of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, has determined which political parties will lead the 24 parliamentary committees. The first names of the candidates have been announced. According to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Saturday edition), former Union candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) is set to lead the Foreign Affairs Committee. SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken, who does not intend to run for party leadership again, will lead the Committee for Education and Family Policy. The elections for the chairmanship of the committees will take place during the first meetings of the respective committees.
The CDU’s other representatives who are expected to lead committees are as follows: Thomas Röwekamp will lead the Defense Committee, Christian von Stetten will lead the Economic Affairs Committee, Hermann Färber will lead the Agriculture Committee, Mechthild Heil will lead the Human Rights Committee and Anja Karliczek will lead the Tourism Committee. From the SPD, the former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach will lead the Research Committee. The elections for the chairmanship of the committees will take place during the first meetings of the respective committees.