Green and Left Party Members Urge Cooperation on Parliamentary Inquiries
Politicians from the Green and Left parties are calling on the governing Union (CDU/CSU) and SPD to facilitate the establishment of parliamentary inquiry committees in the Bundestag. Irene Mihalic, the First Parliamentary Director of the Greens, stated in an interview with the Rheinische Post that a “fairness agreement” with the governing parties is necessary to ensure effective parliamentary oversight. She emphasized that only nine additional votes from the coalition are required to reach the necessary threshold for initiating these inquiries.
Currently, 25 percent of parliamentary seats are needed to approve the formation of an inquiry committee. The Green and Left parties are currently close to falling short of this requirement. The Greens have indicated they do not support lowering the quorum to the level seen in 2013, arguing that the current political landscape with three opposition factions differs significantly from that of 2013.
Jan van Aken, the leader of the Left party, expressed concern regarding the current majority in the Bundestag. He warned that without a shift in position from the SPD and CDU, no inquiry committees would be established during the current legislative period. Van Aken characterized this situation as “convenient for the coalition” but detrimental to democratic accountability. He also stated that cooperation with the far-right AfD party on inquiry committees was not an option.
Bernd Baumann, the First Parliamentary Director of the AfD, countered that the required quorum could be easily achieved with the AfD’s support. He accused the Green and Left parties of prioritizing other matters over parliamentary oversight. Baumann indicated that the AfD is prepared to participate in inquiries concerning mask procurement and the collapse of Northvolt.