Gregor Gysi will begin the inaugural session of the new Bundestag when it meets on Tuesday, March 25. The 77-year-old from the left-wing party has full liberty to choose both the topic and duration of his address.
According to the rules of the German parliament, the longest-serving member has the privilege of opening the inaugural session of a new Bundestag following a general election. In this instance, that role falls to 77-year-old Gregor Gysi, who has been a nearly continuous member for 31 years, from October 3, 1990—the date of Germany’s reunification.
Gysi was raised in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was a communist regime.
The accomplished attorney, who was also the offspring of ex-GDR Cultural Minister Klaus Gysi, entered the political arena amid the nonviolent upheaval of the late ’80s. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which put the influential Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) at a crossroads, Gysi assumed leadership swiftly. Against considerable doubt, he managed an extraordinary feat: steering the SED away from oblivion.
How the Left Party Developed Over Time
To signal a new beginning for a new democratic era, the SED adopted the name PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism) and went on to win 16% of the vote in the last and only free East German election, to the GDR People’s Chamber.
Next, Gysi took on the role of the primary contender for the PDS in the initial post-reunification election to the Bundestag, which was headquartered in Bonn, the capital of Western Germany at that time.
“When I entered the Bundestag in 1990, I wasn’t held in high regard; instead, I was despised by certain individuals,” Berlin-native Gysi recounted to the weekly paper lately.
Das Parliament
He mentioned having to gain respect over many years, yet he ended by saying that now things have changed: “I think most members of the Bundestag acknowledge my political contributions.”
Stasi allegations
Many people also criticize the left-wing politician due to allegations that were never completely resolved. In the mid-1990s, documents from the notorious East German Ministry for State Security, commonly referred to as the “Stasi,” came to light, indicating that Gysi might have been a Stasi informer. However, no evidence was ever found to substantiate these claims.
Nevertheless, a Bundestag committee examining potential Stasi involvement among Members of Parliament concluded that Gysi was indeed an informal informant for the East German secret service. Despite having previously advocated for those opposed to the government during the GDR period, Gysi managed to successfully defend himself multiple times in court against recurring allegations.
The accusations regarding his history failed to diminish his popularity, even within the former West Germany. Known as an adept speaker, he frequently intimidates fellow Members of Parliament with his clever parliamentary addresses. Additionally, he is a favorite among television talk show audiences and much in demand as an interview subject.
Safeguarding East German interests
Gysi has consistently viewed himself as an advocate for the interests of eastern Germany. Following reunification, millions of former GDR residents found themselves without work due to the struggling state-run businesses (VEB) being incapable of competing within the capitalist framework. As a result, they rapidly started feeling like inferior citizens.
Gysi aimed to alter this situation, yet his efforts were only partly successful. At first, the newly formed leftist group achieved electoral success with more than 20% of votes in the former East Germany. However, gradually, numerous individuals distanced themselves from the party known as The Left. Consequently, many residents in Eastern Germany shifted their support toward the right-populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Gysi is particularly delighted with the unforeseen success of his party during the federal elections held on February 23rd. Having secured slightly less than nine percent, they nearly doubled their previous outcome from 2021. The rise in backing for the AfD has left him feeling disheartened. Likely due to this concern, he’s anticipated to address the condition of societal affairs in his inaugural speech as a former speaker of the Bundestag. Additionally, he plans to weigh in on matters concerning international relations amidst multiple conflicts and upheavals.
Thirty-five years since German reunification, it is both an honor and a responsibility to kick off the inaugural session of the new Bundestag, as Gysi stated.
Das Parlament
He will deliver both his opening and closing remarks at this event – with no restrictions on how long he can speak. “Don’t fret,” he quipped, “I won’t take advantage of that liberty.”
The original version of this piece was penned in German.
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Author: Marcel Fürstenau