In brief
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.
