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President of the
Federal Council of the Federal Republic of Germany
Bundesrat Logo.svg
23 08 28 BSPC DSCF7008 1.jpg
Incumbent
Manuela Schwesig

since 1 November 2023
Legislative Branch of the
German Federal Government
Seat Berlin, Germany
Appointer Bundesrat of Germany
Term length One year
Constituting instrument German Basic Law
Inaugural holder Karl Arnold
Formation 1949
Website Official Website: http://www.bundesrat.de/EN/organisation-en/praesident-en/praesident-en-node.html

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. 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.

List of presidents

Political Party

      CDU       SPD       CSU       FDP       Green       Left

No. President of the Bundesrat Took office Left office Time in office Party State
1
Karl Arnold
Arnold, KarlKarl Arnold
(1901–1958)
7 September 1949 8 September 1950 1 year, 1 day CDU North Rhine-Westphalia
2
Hans Ehard
Ehard, HansHans Ehard
(1887–1980)
8 September 1950 7 September 1951 364 days CSU Bavaria
3
Hinrich Wilhelm Kopf
Kopf, HinrichHinrich Wilhelm Kopf
(1893–1961)
7 September 1951 6 September 1952 365 days SPD Lower Saxony
4
Reinhold Maier
Maier, ReinholdReinhold Maier
(1889–1971)
7 September 1952 6 September 1953 364 days FDP Baden-Württemberg
5
Georg August Zinn
Zinn, GeorgGeorg August Zinn
(1901–1976)
7 September 1953 6 September 1954 364 days SPD Hesse
6
Peter Altmeier
Altmeier, PeterPeter Altmeier
(1899–1977)
7 September 1954 6 September 1955 364 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
7
Kai-Uwe von Hassel
Hassel, KaiKai-Uwe von Hassel
(1913–1997)
7 September 1955 6 September 1956 365 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
8
Kurt Sieveking
Sieveking, KurtKurt Sieveking
(1897–1986)
7 September 1956 31 October 1957 1 year, 54 days CDU Hamburg
9
Willy Brandt
Brandt, WillyWilly Brandt
(1913–1992)
1 November 1957 31 October 1958 364 days SPD West Berlin
10
Wilhelm Kaisen
Kaisen, WilhelmWilhelm Kaisen
(1887–1979)
1 November 1958 31 October 1959 364 days SPD Bremen
11
Franz Josef Röder
Röder, FranzFranz Josef Röder
(1909–1979)
1 November 1959 31 October 1960 365 days CDU Saarland
12
Franz Meyers
Meyers, FranzFranz Meyers
(1908–2002)
1 November 1960 31 October 1961 365 days CDU North Rhine-Westphalia
13
(2)
Hans Ehard
Ehard, HansHans Ehard
(1887–1980)
1 November 1961 31 October 1962 364 days CSU Bavaria
14
Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kiesinger, KurtKurt Georg Kiesinger
(1904–1988)
1 November 1962 31 October 1963 364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
15
Georg Diederichs
Diederichs, GeorgGeorg Diederichs
(1900–1983)
1 November 1963 31 October 1964 364 days SPD Lower Saxony
16
(5)
Georg August Zinn
Zinn, GeorgGeorg August Zinn
(1901–1976)
1 November 1964 31 October 1965 364 days SPD Hesse
17
(6)
Peter Altmeier
Altmeier, PeterPeter Altmeier
(1899–1977)
1 November 1965 31 October 1966 364 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
18
Helmut Lemke
Lemke, HelmutHelmut Lemke
(1907–1990)
1 November 1966 31 October 1967 364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
19
Klaus Schütz
Schütz, KlausKlaus Schütz
(1926–2012)
1 November 1967 31 October 1968 365 days SPD West Berlin
20
Herbert Weichmann
Weichmann, HerbertHerbert Weichmann
(1896–1983)
1 November 1968 31 October 1969 364 days SPD Hamburg
21
(11)
Franz Josef Röder
Röder, FranzFranz Josef Röder
(1909–1979)
1 November 1969 31 October 1970 364 days CDU Saarland
22
Hans Koschnick
Koschnick, HansHans Koschnick
(1929–2016)
1 November 1970 31 October 1971 364 days SPD Bremen
23
Heinz Kühn
Kühn, HeinzHeinz Kühn
(1912–1992)
1 November 1971 31 October 1972 365 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
24
Alfons Goppel
Goppel, AlfonsAlfons Goppel
(1905–1991)
1 November 1972 31 October 1973 364 days CSU Bavaria
25
Hans Filbinger
Filbinger, HansHans Filbinger
(1913–2007)
1 November 1973 31 October 1974 364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
26
Alfred Kubel
Kubel, AlfredAlfred Kubel
(1909–1999)
1 November 1974 31 October 1975 364 days SPD Lower Saxony
27
Albert Osswald
Osswald, AlbertAlbert Osswald
(1919–1996)
1 November 1975 20 October 1976
(membership ended)
354 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 20 October to 3 December 1976.
28
Bernhard Vogel
Vogel, BernhardBernhard Vogel
(born 1932)
3 December 1976 31 October 1977 321 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
29
Gerhard Stoltenberg
Stoltenberg, GerhardGerhard Stoltenberg
(1928–2001)
1 November 1977 31 October 1978 364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
30
Dietrich Stobbe
Stobbe, DietrichDietrich Stobbe
(1938–2011)
1 November 1978 31 October 1979 364 days SPD West Berlin
31
Hans-Ulrich Klose
Klose, HansHans-Ulrich Klose
(1937–2023)
1 November 1979 31 October 1980 365 days SPD Hamburg
32
Werner Zeyer
Zeyer, WernerWerner Zeyer
(1929–2000)
1 November 1980 31 October 1981 364 days CDU Saarland
33
(22)
Hans Koschnick
Koschnick, HansHans Koschnick
(1929–2016)
1 November 1981 31 October 1982 364 days SPD Bremen
34
Johannes Rau
Rau, JohannesJohannes Rau
(1931–2006)
1 November 1982 31 October 1983 364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
35
Franz Josef Strauss
Strauß, FranzFranz Josef Strauss
(1915–1988)
1 November 1983 31 October 1984 365 days CSU Bavaria
36
Lothar Späth
Späth, LotharLothar Späth
(1937–2016)
1 November 1984 31 October 1985 364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
37
Ernst Albrecht
Albrecht, ErnstErnst Albrecht
(1930–2014)
1 November 1985 31 October 1986 364 days CDU Lower Saxony
38
Holger Börner
Börner, HolgerHolger Börner
(1931–2006)
1 November 1986 24 April 1987
(membership ended)
174 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 24 April to 15 May 1987.
39
Walter Wallmann
Wallmann, WalterWalter Wallmann
(1932–2013)
15 May 1987 31 October 1987 169 days CDU Hesse
40
(28)
Bernhard Vogel
Vogel, BernhardBernhard Vogel
(born 1932)
1 November 1987 31 October 1988 365 days CDU Rhineland-Palatinate
41
Björn Engholm
Engholm, BjörnBjörn Engholm
(born 1939)
1 November 1988 31 October 1989 364 days SPD Schleswig-Holstein
42
Walter Momper
Momper, WalterWalter Momper
(born 1945)
1 November 1989 31 October 1990 364 days SPD West Berlin
(until 2 October 1990)
Berlin
(3–31 October 1990)
43
Henning Voscherau
Voscherau, HenningHenning Voscherau
(1941–2016)
1 November 1990 31 October 1991 364 days SPD Hamburg
44
Alfred Gomolka
Gomolka, AlfredAlfred Gomolka
(1942–2020)
1 November 1991 19 March 1992
(membership ended)
139 days CDU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The office was vacant from 19 March to 15 May 1992.
45
Berndt Seite
Seite, BerndtBerndt Seite
(born 1940)
15 May 1992 31 October 1992 169 days CDU Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
46
Oskar Lafontaine
Lafontaine, OskarOskar Lafontaine
(born 1943)
1 November 1992 31 October 1993 364 days SPD Saarland
47
Klaus Wedemeier
Wedemeier, KlausKlaus Wedemeier
(born 1944)
1 November 1993 31 October 1994 364 days SPD Bremen
48
(34)
Johannes Rau
Rau, JohannesJohannes Rau
(1931–2006)
1 November 1994 31 October 1995 364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
49
Edmund Stoiber
Stoiber, EdmundEdmund Stoiber
(born 1941)
1 November 1995 31 October 1996 365 days CSU Bavaria
50
Erwin Teufel
Teufel, ErwinErwin Teufel
(born 1939)
1 November 1996 31 October 1997 364 days CDU Baden-Württemberg
51
Gerhard Schröder
Schröder, GerhardGerhard Schröder
(born 1944)
1 November 1997 27 October 1998
(resigned to become Chancellor)
360 days SPD Lower Saxony
The office was vacant from 27 October to 1 November 1998.
52
Hans Eichel
Eichel, HansHans Eichel
(born 1941)
1 November 1998 7 April 1999
(membership ended)
157 days SPD Hesse
The office was vacant from 7 April to 30 April 1999.
53
Roland Koch
Koch, RolandRoland Koch
(born 1958)
30 April 1999 31 October 1999 184 days CDU Hesse
54
Kurt Biedenkopf
Biedenkopf, KurtKurt Biedenkopf
(1930–2021)
1 November 1999 31 October 2000 365 days CDU Saxony
55
Kurt Beck
Beck, KurtKurt Beck
(born 1949)
1 November 2000 31 October 2001 364 days SPD Rhineland-Palatinate
56
Klaus Wowereit
Wowereit, KlausKlaus Wowereit
(born 1953)
1 November 2001 31 October 2002 364 days SPD Berlin
57
Wolfgang Böhmer
Böhmer, WolfgangWolfgang Böhmer
(born 1936)
1 November 2002 31 October 2003 364 days CDU Saxony-Anhalt
58
Dieter Althaus
Althaus, DieterDieter Althaus
(born 1958)
1 November 2003 31 October 2004 365 days CDU Thuringia
59
Matthias Platzeck
Platzeck, MatthiasMatthias Platzeck
(born 1953)
1 November 2004 31 October 2005 364 days SPD Brandenburg
60
Peter Harry Carstensen
Carstensen, PeterPeter Harry Carstensen
(born 1947)
1 November 2005 31 October 2006 364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
61
Harald Ringstorff
Ringstorff, HaraldHarald Ringstorff
(1939–2020)
1 November 2006 31 October 2007 364 days SPD Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
62
Ole von Beust
Beust, OleOle von Beust
(born 1955)
1 November 2007 31 October 2008 365 days CDU Hamburg
63
Peter Müller
Müller, PeterPeter Müller
(born 1955)
1 November 2008 31 October 2009 364 days CDU Saarland
64
Jens Böhrnsen
Böhrnsen, JensJens Böhrnsen
(born 1949)
1 November 2009 31 October 2010 364 days SPD Bremen
65
Hannelore Kraft
Kraft, HanneloreHannelore Kraft
(born 1961)
1 November 2010 31 October 2011 364 days SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
66
Horst Seehofer
Seehofer, HorstHorst Seehofer
(born 1949)
1 November 2011 31 October 2012 365 days CSU Bavaria
67
Winfried Kretschmann
Kretschmann, WinfriedWinfried Kretschmann
(born 1948)
1 November 2012 31 October 2013 364 days Green Baden-Württemberg
68
Stephan Weil
Weil, StephanStephan Weil
(born 1958)
1 November 2013 31 October 2014 364 days SPD Lower Saxony
69
Volker Bouffier
Bouffier, VolkerVolker Bouffier
(born 1951)
1 November 2014 31 October 2015 364 days CDU Hesse
70
Stanislaw Tillich
Tillich, StanislawStanislaw Tillich
(born 1959)
1 November 2015 31 October 2016 365 days CDU Saxony
71
Malu Dreyer
Dreyer, MaluMalu Dreyer
(born 1961)
1 November 2016 31 October 2017 364 days SPD Rhineland-Palatinate
72
Michael Müller
Müller, MichaelMichael Müller
(born 1964)
1 November 2017 31 October 2018 364 days SPD Berlin
73
Daniel Günther
Günther, DanielDaniel Günther
(born 1973)
1 November 2018 31 October 2019 364 days CDU Schleswig-Holstein
74
Dietmar Woidke
Woidke, DietmarDietmar Woidke
(born 1961)
1 November 2019 31 October 2020 365 days SPD Brandenburg
75
Reiner Haseloff
Haseloff, ReinerReiner Haseloff
(born 1954)
1 November 2020 31 October 2021 364 days CDU Saxony-Anhalt
76
Bodo Ramelow
Ramelow, BodoBodo Ramelow
(born 1956)
1 November 2021 31 October 2022 364 days Left Thuringia
77
Peter Tschentscher
Tschentscher, PeterPeter Tschentscher
(born 1966)
1 November 2022 31 October 2023 364 days SPD Hamburg
78
Manuela Schwesig
Schwesig, ManuelaManuela Schwesig
(born 1974)
1 November 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 33 days SPD Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Presidente del Bundesrat alemán para niños

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