Germany's new parliament has fewer women lawmakers

Germany's new Parliament will have fewer women and less diversity than before. This change comes after a coalition of conservative parties won the federal election last month. Key leaders, including the likely new chancellor Friedrich Merz, were pictured together in a way that many feel represents a step back in terms of diversity. Only 32 percent of the 630 new lawmakers are women, down from 35 percent in the previous Parliament. This decline marks a continued stagnation in the representation of women in Germany's political arena. Since 2013, the percentage of women in Parliament has not improved, peaking at 36 percent that year. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier brought attention to this issue during a recent Women’s Day celebration. He emphasized that a lack of women in politics reflects a broader issue in democracy. Despite the support of all elected women from various parties, they still lack enough votes to block changes to the Constitution. This situation raises concerns about gender equality and representation in German politics.