Parliamentary Secretary (Germany)

Parliamentary Secretary (Germany). In the Federal Republic of Germany, a Parliamentary State Secretary (Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär) is a political official who supports a Federal Minister within a federal ministry. The position, established in 1967, bridges the executive branch and the Bundestag, as holders must be members of parliament. They act as the minister's deputy in parliamentary affairs, represent the ministry in the Bundestag and its committees, and are key figures in political communication and legislative coordination.

Role and Function

The primary role of a Parliamentary State Secretary is to relieve the Federal Minister of parliamentary duties and represent the ministry's interests within the Bundestag. They regularly attend sessions of the Bundestag and its specialized committees, such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs or the Budget Committee, to answer questions and debate legislative proposals. In this capacity, they work closely with parliamentary groups like the CDU/CSU, SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens, and the FDP. Furthermore, they often represent the federal government in public, explaining policies to the media and at events, and may be tasked with overseeing specific policy areas within the ministry, such as digital infrastructure within the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport or European policy within the Federal Foreign Office.

Historical Development

The office of Parliamentary State Secretary was formally created by an amendment to the Basic Law (Article 43, GG) and the subsequent Law on Parliamentary State Secretaries in 1967, during the first Grand Coalition government under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger. This reform aimed to strengthen the link between the federal government and the Bundestag, addressing a perceived gap in political accountability. The model was influenced by similar positions in other parliamentary systems, such as the United Kingdom's Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State. Over the decades, the number of positions has fluctuated with each governing coalition; for instance, the Schröder cabinet and the Merkel cabinets adjusted the count based on coalition agreements. The role has evolved from a primarily liaison function to a more substantive political-deputy position with significant public visibility.

Appointment and Legal Basis

Appointment is governed by the Law on Parliamentary State Secretaries (ParlStG). Candidates are proposed by the Federal Chancellor and formally appointed by the Federal President upon the recommendation of the respective Federal Minister. A fundamental legal requirement is that the appointee must be a member of the Bundestag; they relinquish the office if they lose their parliamentary seat. Their legal status is distinct from the career civil servants known as State Secretaries (Beamte). The Federal Constitutional Court has issued rulings clarifying their position within the constitutional framework, emphasizing their political, non-bureaucratic function. Their tenure ends automatically with the term of the Federal Minister, the Federal Chancellor, or the dissolution of the Bundestag.

Distinction from Other Offices

The Parliamentary State Secretary must be clearly distinguished from the permanent State Secretary (Staatssekretär), who is a senior career civil servant and the administrative head of a ministry. While the Parliamentary Secretary is a political appointee from the Bundestag, the permanent State Secretary is a non-partisan official akin to the top tier of the German Civil Service. The role also differs from that of a Federal Minister or a Federal Chancellor, as Parliamentary Secretaries do not hold independent constitutional authority. Unlike Commissioners (e.g., the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media), who may report directly to the Chancellor, Parliamentary Secretaries are integrally tied to a specific ministry and its minister.

Notable Parliamentary Secretaries

Many prominent German politicians have served in this role early in their careers, using it as a stepping stone to higher office. Hans-Dietrich Genscher served as Parliamentary State Secretary in the Interior Ministry before becoming Interior Minister and long-serving Foreign Minister. Wolfgang Schäuble held the position in the Chancellery prior to his tenures as Interior Minister and Finance Minister. More recently, figures like Michael Roth at the Federal Foreign Office and Steffen Bilger at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport have been visible Parliamentary Secretaries. The office has also been held by leaders of coalition partners, such as Katrin Göring-Eckardt of Alliance 90/The Greens in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Category:Government of Germany Category:German political titles