A German opposition party, the Left, is calling for new rules and increased transparency in the German federal parliament, the Bundestag, ahead of the upcoming legislative period. According to Christian Görke, the parliamentary manager of the Left, the parliament needs to become more vibrant and transparent. He criticizes the “progressive coalition” of the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party for not having delivered on their promises, only achieving half of what they had promised.
One of the key demands of the Left is for all parliamentary committees to hold open meetings. Currently, important committees such as the finance, budget and defense committees still hold their meetings behind closed doors. “This must come to an end” Görke emphasized.
The Left is also seeking changes in the way the federal government responds to parliamentary questions. “The right of parliamentarians to ask questions of the government must be significantly strengthened” Görke said, citing recent experiences where governments have failed to provide answers or used secrecy as an excuse.
Görke is calling for harsher sanctions and the establishment of a neutral body within the Bundestag’s administration to review, evaluate and, if necessary, release information. “Only then can the constitutionally enshrined right of inquiry be effectively enforced” he said.