Gender Disparity Grows in Germany's New Parliament

Tue Oct 21 2025 13:13:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Germany's upcoming parliamentary session brings fewer women lawmakers, raising concerns about representation and diversity.

The new German Parliament is less diverse and has fewer women than its predecessor, reflecting ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity, as only 32% of the 630 lawmakers are female.

Germany is set to swear in its new Parliament soon, and the numbers reveal a concerning trend: only 32% of the members are women, a decline from 35% in the previous session. This drop is particularly alarming in a country that grapples with traditional gender roles. The new parliament is dominated by a group of predominantly middle-aged white men, as showcased in a recent social media post from Bavaria’s governor featuring future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Since reaching a high of 36% women representation in 2013, the percentage has stagnated, raising questions about democracy's health in Germany. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlighted this issue during a Women’s Day event, stating that a democracy struggling with women’s representation is a democracy in distress.

Despite some progress in other nations towards diversity, Germany's political landscape seems to be moving backward, casting a spotlight on the urgent need for change as the new lawmakers prepare to take office.