According to reports by the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday), the Union and SPD are considering ending the summer break of the Bundestag earlier this year. The parliamentary session is planned to begin on September 8, with an additional week of sessions. The current schedule has the first session after the summer break on September 15. The idea of postponing the break was rejected as the parties could not agree on it. The decision still needs to be approved by the oldest members of the Bundestag. Prior to his election as Chancellor, CDU leader Friedrich Merz had initially announced plans to extend the parliamentary sessions into the summer to achieve a “shift in public opinion.