State Parliament Debates Tougher Rules for Inquiry Committees in 2026
Before the newly elected 19th State Parliament—chosen on March 22—is expected to convene for its inaugural session on May 18, 2026, the 101 members of the still-sitting 18th State Parliament will gather for two plenary sessions on Wednesday, April 29, and Wednesday, May 6, 2026, each beginning at 1:00 PM. The meetings come ahead of a planned amendment to Article 91 of the state constitution, which governs the establishment of parliamentary committees of inquiry. If the constitutional change is adopted, both the Committee of Inquiry Act and the parliament's rules of procedure will also need to be revised accordingly.
The parliamentary groups of the CDU, SPD, and Alliance 90/The Greens intend to raise the minority threshold required to initiate a committee of inquiry from one-fifth to one-quarter of all members. Under the new rule, 27 of the 105 lawmakers in the incoming parliament would be needed to establish such a committee—aligning the threshold with that of the Bundestag and several other state parliaments.
Both plenary sessions will be broadcast live on the State Parliament's website at www.landtag.rlp.de, as well as on its Facebook and YouTube channels.
Background: Parliamentary Committees of Inquiry
A committee of inquiry is a parliamentary subbody endowed with special powers not available to the full chamber. Unlike ordinary proceedings, it does not rely solely on information provided by the government or other authorities; instead, it has the right to gather evidence independently. This includes the authority to request and examine documents, as well as to summon and question witnesses. No other parliamentary body possesses such extensive investigative and coercive powers.
The legal framework for committees of inquiry is set out in Article 91 of the state constitution and the State Act on the Establishment and Procedure of Committees of Inquiry (UAG). Their mandate is to investigate matters of significant public interest and report their findings to the full parliament. At their core, these inquiries aim to determine—and, where necessary, enforce—political accountability for specific failures or misconduct.
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