For the first time in German parliamentary history, a female MP delivered a speech at the lectern while cradling her infant.
A Groundbreaking Moment in the Bundestag
In a remarkable and unprecedented act, Hanna Steinmüller, a member of the Green Party, stood at the podium in the Bundestag giving her speech while holding her child in her arms. The German parliament itself noted the event on its Instagram account: “For the first time, a member of parliament stood at the lectern in the Bundestag with her baby.”
A video shared publicly shows the infant sleeping soundly amid the murmurs and movement of the chamber.
The Speech and the Circumstances
Steinmüller’s address came during the budget debate on funding for the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction. Despite the weight of the topic, her infant remained peaceful throughout the speech.
She had announced the birth of her child in December and had, on prior occasions, brought the infant into parliamentary sessions. But Tuesday marked the first time she addressed the chamber while carrying the baby at the podium. After the speech, in an Instagram story, Steinmüller wrote:
“Wild day. First we’ll celebrate tonight — tomorrow I’ll share more thoughts about balancing personal life and work.”
Reactions and Context
Julia Klöckner, President of the Bundestag and a politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), praised Steinmüller in her own Instagram story:
“A mother with a baby and the challenges of childcare? Hanna Steinmüller handled this brilliantly with her child.” Klöckner also commented that under certain conditions, she considers it reasonable to permit infants in plenary sessions.
Steinmüller, 32 years old, has served as the Bundestag representative for Berlin-Mitte since 2021. According to German media, this moment has been regarded as a symbolic step for recognizing the challenges faced by parents, especially mothers, in political life.
Some commentators noted that while the scene may seem ordinary to many working parents, it remains startling in the context of formal parliamentary proceedings—showing how far political institutions have to evolve to better integrate family life.
Looking Ahead
This moment raises questions about how parliamentary rules and practices might adapt to more fully accommodate parenthood. Steinmüller’s speech may open the door for broader acceptance of infants in formal political settings under appropriate conditions. The balance between motherhood and political duty, long debated in theory, has now been made literal in Germany’s federal legislature.
From: taz.de