Kleinerer Bundestag durch vereinte Unionsparteien? Eine minimalinvasive und partei- enproporzneutrale Option für die aktuelle Wahlrechtsdiskussion

Abstract

The German electoral law is a permanent object of criticism . This is mainly due to the Bun- destag’s size, which grew to a record of 736 MPs in 2021 . Key reasons for this growth are surplus and compensation seats which are hard to explain to the broader public . The reform of 2013 according to which surplus seats are offset between the state lists of one party, is only partly effective to stop the growth of Parliament, since the long-term partners CDU and the CSU run for the Bundestag as separate parties . Against this background, a twofold proposal for reform is needed . First, the electoral law would enable joint lists of parties that do not compete against each other . Second, an amendment of the Bundestag’s standing orders can establish that only parties with joint lists can form a parliamentary party group . The incentives provided by this combined reform could be effective because both Chris- tian-democratic parties benefit from a joint parliamentary group . This proposal could be one component for the upcoming electoral reform since it does not change the proportion of seats and, thus, could also be supported by the CDU as well as the CSU .