Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The parties in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament have nominated their candidates for the office of state vice president. In the case of the Greens, Berivan Aymaz was unanimously proposed, as the parliamentary group announced on Tuesday. "What drives me is to show that the state parliament is a place where diversity is considered and lived in every respect," said Aymaz in a statement.
The Social Democrats nominated 61-year-old Rainer Schmeltzer, who was Minister of Labor in North Rhine-Westphalia from 2015 to 2017. "During my political work, strengthening and protecting our democracy was always particularly important to me. Our democracy must be visible - and not just in Parliament itself. I would like to advocate for this in the Presidium," said Schmeltzer in a statement.
The FDP proposed the previous parliamentary group leader Christof Rasche (59 years) as Vice President of the state parliament. The AfD nominated the Dorsten criminal scientist Daniel Zerbin as a candidate for the office of Vice President.
There are now four candidates for three posts, because according to the current rules of procedure of the state parliament, the president of the state parliament has three deputies. In the past legislative period, these offices were held by MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP. According to the deputy group leader, the AfD wants to change the current rules of procedure and enforce a fourth deputy post. In 2017 she failed.
The state parliament will elect the new leadership at the constituent meeting this Wednesday. The North Rhine-Westphalian CDU had already nominated 61-year-old André Kuper as president again last week. The president is traditionally the strongest parliamentary group.
