Bodo Ramelow, a seasoned politician from Thuringia, has been elected as the Vice President of the German Bundestag during its inaugural session on March 25, 2025. Ramelow, representing the Left Party (Die Linke), secured his position with a narrow majority, garnering 318 votes, surpassing the required 316 votes. However, his election was not without controversy, as he faced 256 votes against him and 34 abstentions, with five votes deemed invalid.
Born on February 16, 1956, in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Ramelow's political journey has been marked by significant milestones. He was a member of the Bundestag from 2005 to 2009 and returned to the federal assembly after winning a direct mandate in the February 23, 2025, federal election with 36.8 percent of the primary vote in the Erfurt – Weimar – Weimarer Land II constituency.
Ramelow's election as Vice President comes at a time when the Bundestag is seeing a shift in its leadership structure. The Bundestag had previously decided that Julia Klöckner (CDU) would have five deputies, and alongside Ramelow, Andrea Lindholz (CSU), Josephine Ortleb (SPD), and Omid Nouripour (Greens) were also elected to the Presidium. The election of the AfD candidate Gerold Otten was notable for its failure; he did not receive the necessary votes in three ballots, highlighting ongoing tensions between the AfD and other political factions.
Following his election, the Thuringian Left Party congratulated Ramelow, with Ulrike Grosse-Röthig, the state chairwoman, stating that his election is a "sign of trust and recognition" and acknowledges his ability to work across party lines. Ramelow's experience in politics is extensive, having served in various capacities, including as the Minister President of Thuringia from 2014 until 2024 and as the President of the Bundesrat from November 2021 to October 2022.
However, Ramelow's election has sparked criticism regarding representation in the Bundestag's leadership. Paula Piechotta, a Green politician from Leipzig, pointed out the lack of East German representation in the new Presidium, stating, "While the last Bundestag Presidium had three strong East Germans, there is now not a single person born or raised in East Germany." She attributed this situation to the voting decisions of many East Germans and the electoral reforms that have taken place.
Ramelow's political career began with a vocational training as a retail salesman in Gießen from 1970 to 1973, followed by various roles in trade unions, culminating in his position as the state chairman of the HBV trade union in Thuringia from 1990 to 1999. His affiliation with the PDS, which later became Die Linke, began in 1999, and he has held numerous positions within the party and government since then.
As Ramelow transitions to his role in the Bundestag, his resignation from the Thuringian state parliament has already prompted a succession. Sascha Bilay, a political scientist from Eisenach, will replace him in the state parliament. Bilay previously served in the Thuringian state parliament from 2019 to 2024, and his return is seen as a continuation of Ramelow's legacy in regional politics.
In the AfD parliamentary group, new members Pascal Wloch and Elisabeth Mengel-Stähle are stepping in for former state parliament members Stephan Möller and Torben Braga, who have also moved to the Bundestag. Wloch, a state-certified technician for mechanical engineering from Bad Salzungen, and Mengel-Stähle, a clerk in the real estate and housing industry from Stadtroda, are both entering their first mandates in the Thuringian state parliament.
Ramelow's election as Vice President of the Bundestag is a significant development in German politics, particularly for the Left Party, which has faced challenges in gaining representation in federal governance. His leadership is expected to influence discussions on various pressing issues, including economic policy, social justice, and the representation of East Germans in the political landscape.
As Ramelow takes on this new role, he faces the challenge of navigating the complexities of a divided parliament while also striving to ensure that the voices of his constituents in Thuringia are heard at the national level. His commitment to bipartisan cooperation will be crucial as he works to foster dialogue among the various factions within the Bundestag.
Overall, Bodo Ramelow's election marks a pivotal moment for both himself and the Left Party, as they seek to solidify their presence in the federal government while addressing the concerns of their constituents. The coming months will reveal how his leadership will shape the future of the Bundestag and the political landscape in Germany.
