The president of Parliament coordinates the parliamentary work. He chairs the plenary sessions and represents the Parliament in all important matters.
If the president chairs a plenary session, he does not express himself politically. He is non-partisan. If he wishes to intervene in the political debate, he hands over the presidency.
The president, like the other members of the Bureau, must be re-elected at the beginning of each session.
A glimpse at his tasks
The President directs the work of the Parliament and its bodies.
- He chairs the meetings of plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau,
- he opens, closes or adjourns the meetings of the plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau,
- he ensures order is respected and gives the floor during debates in plenary sittings, the Bureau and the extended Bureau,
- he formulates the aspects on which a decision must be taken in the meetings of the plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau and announces the result of the vote,
- he signs every decision of the plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau,
- he ensures the implementation of decisions taken by plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau,
- he makes sure that the plenary assembly, the Bureau and the extended Bureau comply with the house rules and decisions,
- he receives all proposals, drafts, amendments, reports, questions, interpellations and requests and checks their admissibility inasmuch as this does not fall within the competence of another parliamentary body,
- he brings all communications, letters and other documents received, with the exception of anonymous and offensive letters, to the attention of the plenary assembly,
- he forwards all documents and information to the parliamentary bodies, insofar as they fall within their remit,
- he represents the Parliament externally.
The president is assisted in his activities by the secretary general, the head of the Parliament's administration.
On 17 June 2019, Karl-Heinz Lambertz was elected President by the plenary.