The State Parliament of Bremen (, ) is the legislative branch of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen in Germany. The state parliament elects the members of the Senate (executive), exercises oversight of the executive, and passes legislation. It currently consists of 87 members from six parties. The current majority is a coalition of the Social Democratic Party, Alliance 90/The Greens and The Left, supporting Mayor and Senate president Andreas Bovenschulte. The 72 delegates of the city of Bremen also form the (the local parliament of the city), while Bremerhaven has its own local parliament.
Electoral system
Current composition After the elections of 14 May 2023, the composition of the Bürgerschaft is as follows: PartySeatsSocial Democratic Party (SPD) 27Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 24Alliance '90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) 11The Left (Die Linke) 10Citizens in Rage (BIW) 10Free Democratic Party (FDP) 5
After the elections of 26 May 2019, the composition of the Bürgerschaft was as follows: PartySeatsChristian Democratic Union (CDU) 24Social Democratic Party (SPD) 23Alliance '90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) 16The Left (Die Linke) 10Alternative for Germany (AfD) 5Free Democratic Party (FDP) 5Citizens in Rage (BIW) 1
Composition (June 2018) PartySeatsSocial Democratic Party (SPD) 30Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 19Alliance '90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) 12The Left (Die Linke) 8Free Democratic Party (FDP) 7Liberal Conservative Reformers (LKR)1Alternative for Germany (AfD) 1Citizens in Rage (BIW) 3Independent 2 After the elections of 10 May 2015, the composition of the Bürgerschaft was as follows: PartySeatsSocial Democratic Party (SPD) 30Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 20Alliance '90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) 14The Left (Die Linke) 8Free Democratic Party (FDP) 6Alliance for Progress and Renewal (ALFA)3Alternative for Germany (AfD) 1Citizens in Rage (BIW) 1
After the 1956 elections, the composition of the Bürgerschaft was as follows: PartyVotesSeatsSocial Democratic Party (SPD)130,47043German Party49,01816Free Democratic Party (FDP)39,43212Christian Democratic Union (CDU)31,1729Socialist Reich Party 25,8138German Communist Party31,2456Total:307,15994 Elections are conducted using proportional representation systems in both voting districts Bremen (72 seats) and Bremerhaven (15 seats), with a minimum of 5% vote share per voting district to receive any seats. The 5% rule is used separately, thus allowing the German People's Union to join the Bürgerschaft by winning 5.7% of the votes in Bremerhaven while winning only 2.75% in the whole state of Bremen.
The 72 members from Bremen also form the Stadtbürgerschaft (city council for the City of Bremen only), which is elected by an extended electorate: the minimum age for voting is 16 instead of 18 and all citizens of the European Union are allowed to vote. It is the only German state parliament with a 4-year, rather than 5-year term. These additional votes created a green Stadtbürgerschaft-only member and a SPD non-Stadtbürgerschaft member from Bremen(City) after the 2003 elections.
In 1979, the Bremer Grüne Liste managed to join the Bürgerschaft, thus being the first Green Party to ever enter a German Landtag.
Presidents of the Bürgerschaft So far, the presidents of the Landtag of Bremen have been: 1946–1966 August Hagedorn, Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1966–1971 Hermann Engel, SPD 1971–1995 Dieter Klink, SPD 1995–1999 Reinhard Metz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 1999–2019 Christian Weber, SPD 2019 Antje Grotheer, SPD 2019–2023 Frank Imhoff, CDU since 2023 Antje Grotheer, SPD
The House of the Parliament The House of the Parliament officially opened in September 1966. Bremen's parliament building is called . The building has a frame construction of iron-reinforced concrete. The sheathing of glass has been hung in front of this construction. The height of the building is approximately that of the level of the eaves of both the Bremen City Hall and the Schütting. The folded roof was a compromise solution conceived as a means for converging and linking the building with the older buildings surrounding the historic market square. The facade of the parliament building reflects the old buildings in the mirror-like surface of the glass sheathing. Artificial reliefs made of aluminum highlight the window sills.
See also 1999 Bremen state election 2003 Bremen state election 2007 Bremen state election
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