Thai-German Parliamentary Exchange
Strengthening Parliamentary Dialogue: Thai Delegation Explores German Democratic Institutions

In September 2019, Thailand and Germany signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agreement recognises parliaments' important role in legislation, budget approval, and oversight functions for sustainable development goals. The exchange programme was designed to enhance mutual understanding and foster unity between parliamentary members of both countries. 

Ms. Steejit Taipiboonsuk, Deputy Secretary-General of Thailand's House of Representatives, led a delegation of six senior officials. The programme covered three key areas: International Relations, Parliamentary Assemblies, and Petition Rights.

German Bundestag Programme (June 23-25, 2025)

Day One of the programme at the Bundestag, Berlin, Germany

HSF and The Secretariat of the House of Representatives

Legislative Process and Transparency

The delegation began with a guided tour of the Reichstag building, including the Glass Dome, before receiving comprehensive briefings on Germany's legislative processes. Mr. Thomas Hadamek, Head of Directorate Parliamentary Services, presented insights into transparency measures and government oversight mechanisms. The Bundestag welcomes approximately 2 million visitors annually, making it the world's most visited parliament.

Constituency Work and International Relations

Mr. Peter Aumer, Member of Parliament (CDU/CSU) and member of the ASEAN friendship group, shared insights into constituency work and parliamentary friendship groups. Mr. Franco Liccione from the Parliamentary Friendship Groups Division facilitated discussions on international cooperation, particularly within the ASEAN region. Dr. Silke Albin, Head of the External Relations, Europe and Analysis Directorate-General and Deputy Secretary-General, and Dr. Bettina Giesecke, Head of the International Exchange Programmes Division, led discussions on the Bundestag's international activities.

The delegation also attended a plenary session with simultaneous German-English translation and toured the German Bundestag's Exhibition on Parliamentary History in the Deutscher Dom.

Parliamentary Media and Digital Innovation

The delegation visited the parliamentary television studio, featuring 8 HD cameras operated by just 2 technicians. Mr. Sebastian Przyrowski and Mr. Lukas Stern from Online Services Parliamentary Television demonstrated how debate footage is uploaded within 10 minutes and shared across social media platforms.

Public Relations and Visitor Services

Mr. Elmar Ostermann and Dr. Christian Junge from the Public Relations Division presented the Bundestag's public dialogue strategies. Dr. Harald Bauer, Visitors' Service, explained how the parliament manages 2 million annual visitors while maintaining security and operational efficiency.

Petition System in Action

The delegation was welcomed to the Petitions Committee by Max Berg, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Petitions Committee. They later observed a Petition Committee meeting, witnessing the selection of deputy committee chairs and the consideration of various petitions. 

The committee meets every Wednesday during parliamentary sessions, handling around 11,400 petitions annually. Ms. Cara Steinke and Ms. Karin Behrens from the Petition Committee Secretariat explained procedures and preparation processes.

German Bundesrat Programme (June 26, 2025)

Day Four of the programme at the German Bundesrat, Berlin, Germany

The Secretariat of the House of Representatives

Federal Structure and State Relations

The delegation transferred to the Bundesrat (Federal Council) to understand Germany's bicameral system. Dr. Sandra Michel, Head of Inter-parliamentary Relations, explained the Bundesrat's international activities and relationships with the European Parliament. The Bundesrat maintains only two international friendship groups: Germany-France and Germany-Poland.

Public Relations and Youth Engagement

Mr. Michael Reinold, Head of Visitor Service and Public Relations, presented their public engagement approach, accommodating 42,000-45,000 annual visitors with capacity expected to increase to 70,000-75,000 next year. The Bundesrat operates a popular democracy education programme for 15-year-old youth from across Germany.

Leadership Opportunities

Dr. Georg Kleemann, Deputy Secretary-General, discussed upcoming opportunities within the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliament. He encouraged Ms. Taipiboonsuk to consider candidacy for the deputy presidency position, offering German support for her potential campaign.

Bavarian Parliament Programme (June 27, 2025)

Day Five of the programme at the Bavarian Parliament, Munich, Germany

The Secretariat of the House of Representatives

State-Level Democratic Governance

Ms. Tanja Schorer-Dremel, Member of the Bavarian Parliament from the CSU party, provided insights into the parliament's composition: 203 members (22% women) elected through district and party list systems. The parliament meets 27 times annually for three-day sessions.

Educational Outreach Programmes

Ms. Anja Sieber, Director of Visitor Services, and Ms. Eva Feldmann-Wojtachnia from Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Policy Research Center presented comprehensive democracy education initiatives. These include hosting 300 student groups (7,000 students annually), conducting 80 democracy simulation games annually reaching 4,500 participants, and organising biennial open house events.

Institutional Cooperation

Mr. Peter Worm, Secretary-General of the Bavarian Parliament, engaged in discussions about parliamentary administration during the formal lunch, strengthening institutional ties between the Bavarian Parliament and the Thai National Assembly.

Hanns Seidel Foundation Headquarters Visit (June 27, 2025)

Mr. Markus Ferber, Chairman of the Hanns Seidel Foundation and Member of the European Parliament, with Ms. Steejit Taipiboonsuk, Deputy Secretary-General of Thailand's House of Representatives

HSF

Programme Conclusion and Future Cooperation

Mr. Markus Ferber, Chairman of the Hanns Seidel Foundation and Member of the European Parliament, concluded the programme by acknowledging the delegation's successful visit and positive feedback from the German Bundestag. Ms. Taipiboonsuk expressed her intention to implement lessons learned to improve Thailand's parliamentary operations, particularly regarding petition processes. She indicated plans to propose establishing a Petition Committee in the Thai Parliament.

The delegation's commitment to implementing German best practices, particularly in establishing petition procedures and enhancing public access to parliamentary processes, represents a tangible outcome of this cooperation. The strengthening of relationships between Thai and German parliamentary officials through the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliament creates a foundation for ongoing collaboration.

The Hanns Seidel Foundation remains committed to supporting Thailand's democratic development and looks forward to continued cooperation in strengthening parliamentary institutions across the ASEAN region. This successful programme serves as a model for future international parliamentary exchanges under the foundation's democracy promotion mandate.

Photo Gallery