There are many online platforms for petitions. But only the Petitions Committee of the Bundestag can try to influence the legislation directly. Sometimes with success.
For the first time in a long time, the Bundestag’s Petitions Committee recorded a drop in petitions from citizens last year. 11,667 petitions were received by the institution, which is known as the “nation’s suggestion box” – a decrease of 2,647 compared to the previous year.
The committee chair Martina Stamm-Fibich (SPD) spoke of an exceptional year that was shaped by Corona and the federal elections. Almost a quarter of all petitions concerned the Federal Ministry of Health. In around 62 percent of all cases, citizens raised personal concerns, said Stamm-Fibich when the 2021 annual report was presented. At the same time, she appealed to citizens to use the instrument of petitions. “As parliamentarians, we not only gain an impression of the mood among the population, but are also made aware of problems at a very early stage.”
It is often a matter of concerns that only affect very small groups of the population and are therefore also below the media’s perception threshold.
More options than online platforms
All citizens can contact the Petitions Committee. Measured by the number of inhabitants, the most objections came from Berlin and Saarland last year, and the fewest from Thuringia and Bremen. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) offered the committee to upgrade it a bit. Discussions should be held about this after the summer break. According to its chairperson, the committee itself is striving to reduce the relatively long processing time of around two years for petitions.
Stamm-Fibich made it clear that objections to the Petitions Committee are always successful and can also lead to legal changes. When reforming the Psychotherapist Act, there were numerous suggestions for improvement that were incorporated into the law. Committee Vice-Chairman Bernhard Loos (CSU) pointed to the reduction in VAT on hygiene items such as tampons. This was a “work of the Petitions Committee”.
At the same time, Loos warned against expectations that were too high and could not be met: “The Petitions Committee is not a super-revision committee that can replace or change court decisions. We are not a legislative committee that reinterprets, supplements or changes laws.” However, Stamm-Fibich emphasized that the committee had considerably more options than the various online petition forums. “These Internet platforms are campaign platforms.” Unlike them, the Petitions Committee can give impetus to influence legislation.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
