Mexico’s Francisco Quiroga becomes acquainted to Thuringia

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Mexico’s Francisco Quiroga becomes acquainted to Thuringia

Thursday, 25 May 2023, Erfurt, Free State of Thuringia, Germany: Premier Bodo Ramelow met the Ambassador of the United Mexican States to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Francisco José Quiroga Fernández, for his inaugural visit to the Thuringian State Chancellery in the capital of Erfurt. 

Quiroga has been Ambassador of the United Mexican States to Germany since 1 September 2021. During their conversation, the two exchanged views on current developments on foreign policy as well as the expansion of trade, cultural and people-to-people relations between Thuringia and Mexico.

For further information 

Government of Thuringia: https://www.staatskanzlei-

thueringen.de/medienservice/veranstaltungsberichte/detailseite/ministerpraesident-bodo-ramelow-5ad7792d7a

105th Independence Day of Azerbaijan in Berlin

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105th Independence Day of Azerbaijan in Berlin


Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin-Tiergarten, Germany: The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany organised a large-scale event dedicated to Independence Day at the Azerbaijan Cultural Centre. Numerous members of the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag), high-ranking representatives of Germany’s state institutions, ambassadors of foreign states, representatives of the mass media, personalities from the fields of science and culture, as well as members of Azerbaijani, Turkish and other communities resident in Germany – more than 500 guests in total – attended the event.

The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Germany were played first at the event. Afterwards, the guests were treated to a short film prepared by the Embassy on the occasion of Independence Day.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, pointed out that the Azerbaijani people established the first republic in the Muslim world 105 years ago. The ambassador stressed that the republic had achieved many successes, highlighting in particular the introduction of women’s suffrage in 1919. He noted that the republic, which ceased to exist in 1920, was restored with the renewed declaration of independence in 1991.

Ambassador Nasimi Aghayev addresses the audience.

The ambassador referred to the great achievements of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing modern Azerbaijani statehood and the rapid development path of Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as the importance of ensuring the territorial integrity of the country from the point of view of statehood as a result of the 44-day war of 2020.

At the event, Ambassador Matthias Lüttenberg, Federal Foreign Office Commissioner for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of the German government on Independence Day. In his speech, he expressed his satisfaction with the dynamic development of Azerbaijani-German relations.

The guests were delighted by the samples of Azerbaijani and international jazz music performed by the Caucasian Consort under the direction of Tural Ismayilov, a musician living in Germany. In addition, Said and Aziza Ibrahimli performed Azerbaijani dances and young people demonstrated the national costumes. Delicious dishes from the national Azerbaijani cuisine were offered to the guests. The stage decorated with national ornaments was received with great interest.

For further information 

Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany: https://berlin.mfa.gov.az/de/news/3992/unabhangigkeitstag-in-berlin-gross-gefeiert

Pictures by Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany

Taiwan – U.S. State Department Report focuses on the change of property of religious real estate assets

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Taiwan – U.S. State Department Report focuses on the change of property of religious real estate assets

By Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers

HRWF (29.05.2023) – In its last annual report published in May 2023, the U.S. State Department on International Religious Freedom declared that in May 2022, Taiwan’s “Legislative Yuan (Parliament) passed a law allowing qualified religious groups to change the registration of real estate assets formerly held in the name of individual members,” an issue that had been, unsuccessfully, debated for many years in Taiwan. 

“Under the new law”, the U.S. Report says, “such assets may be held under the name of the qualified religious foundation, religious corporation, or temple. Officials said the practice of registering temples under individual names had led to conflicts, such as when an owner was ordered to auction off the property or inheritance questions arose.”

Religious landscape in Taiwan 

According to a survey by Taiwan’s national science academy, the Academia Sinica and its Institute of Sociology released in 2021, 27.9 percent of Taiwan’s 23.6 million large population exclusively practices traditional folk religions, 19.8 percent Buddhism, and 18.7 percent Taoism, with 23.9 percent identifying as nonbelievers.

Folk religion denotes an ecosystem of dispersed worship of deities, centered on community temples. The rest of the population consists mainly of Protestants (5.5 percent), Catholics (1.4 percent), and members of other religious groups, including Jews, Sunni Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of Scientology, Baha’is, Mormons and the Unification Church, just to name a few.
Some studies find that as many as 80 percent of religious practitioners combine multiple faith traditions. Many adherents consider themselves both Buddhist and Taoist, and many individuals also incorporate some aspects of traditional Chinese folk religions, including but not limited to shamanism, ancestor worship, magic, ghosts and other spirits, and aspects of animism, into their belief in Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, or other mainline religions. Some practitioners of Buddhism, Taoism, and other religions also practice Falun Gong, a self-described spiritual discipline. The Falun Gong Society of Taiwan states Falun Gong practitioners number in the hundreds of thousands but some scholars say the number is overestimated. Beijing considers Taiwan’s spiritual followers as soft targets to spread its influence, by articulating suitable messaging for each religion.
Registration of religious entities and statistics 

The Constitution of the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan, provides for freedom of religion. Article 13 stipulates that “the people shall have freedom of religious belief”. There is no state religion. While registration is not mandatory, religious organizations may voluntarily obtain an establishment permit from the Ministry of Interior. The permit requires that organizations have real estate in at least seven administrative regions valued at 25 million New Taiwan dollars or more and possess at least NT$5 million in cash.

Alternatively, the organization may register if it possesses in excess of NT$30 million. A religious group may register with the courts upon obtaining an establishment permit. Registered religious groups operate on an income-tax-free basis. They receive case-by-case exemptions from building taxes and must submit annual reports on their financial operations. Groups that are not registered are not eligible for the tax advantages. As of the end of 2019, there were more than 15,000 registered religious groups representing more than 20 religions. 

According to the Ministry of Interior, in 2015 there were 12,106 registered temples in Taiwan. Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County count for 35 percent of the total. Taoist temples are the most populous at 9,485, or 78.35 percent of the total, while Buddhist temples are second at 2,355 or 19,45 percent. With 222 temples or 1.83 percent, I-Kuan Tao temples are third. Churches totaled 3,280, with Protestant being the majority, while Roman Catholic churches were second. 

The 1929 Act of Supervising Temples 

According to the 1929 Act of Supervising Temples, temples are under the management of a trustee monk or nun. Article 6 says that “ownership of all property and possessions will be retained by the temple and managed by trustee monk/nun”. It also adds that the monk/nun cannot take charge “if they are not citizens of the Republic of China”, and they “are not to use incomes derived from temple property except for the purpose of giving religious instruction, upholding the commandments and other miscellaneous expenses with proper usage”. In 2004, Taiwan’s Judicial Yuan, the judicial branch of the government, found that several articles of the Act were unconstitutional because they impose strict restrictions on how religious organizations transfer their properties. This was considered a landmark religious freedom case, being the first case in which the Court explicitly recognized the constitutionally protected autonomy of religious associations. 

The 1929 Act should be seen against the background of the dynamics of the time. Following a turbulent period, the Kuomintang (KMT) government saw public education as a way to rebuild the nation. Not having sufficient funds to invest in public education however, some leaders considered the idea of a law to nationalize temple property to build up the education system. Following fierce protests by the Buddhist and Taoist organizations however, the government did not pass the law on the expropriation-based transfer of wealth from religious entities to the state. It is in this context that the 1929 Act was passed instead, through which the government still maintained the power to monitor the ways in which owners and occupiers of temple property used and managed it.
According to its Article 11, those who would violate the Act would face punishment, including being banished from the temple or be prosecuted in courts. According to some, the Act can be seen as yet another example of centuries-old Chinese traditions manifesting themselves in contemporary Chinese settings. Nonetheless, with Taiwan’s democratization that took off in the late 80s, the state has gradually withdrawn its control over religion. 

Brief history of attempts to change the legislation 

There were several attempts to change Taiwan’s religious groups legislation. In May 2015, the Ministry of Interior approved a bill governing the organization of religious groups. Previously, a similar bill was introduced in 2001, with three different versions in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Under the legislation, the qualified religious facilities and groups can register as religious juristic persons to receive tax benefits such as exemptions on housing and land value taxes, as well as conditional farm land rentals. Furthermore, they are required to submit an annual report to the authorities with financial statements subject to regular audits. Also, details of donations must be disclosed to the public. In 2018 the Legislative Yuan drafted legislation to improve temple registration and property management and to require temples to disclose their financial statements.

The proposed bill, entitled the Religious Groups Law, never passed. In January 2022, the Executive Yuan approved a bill to allow religious groups to change the registrations of their real-estate assets. In light of the new bill, properties owned by religious groups can be regarded as public goods. The bill would also prevent individuals from appropriating the land for their own benefits. Noteworthy is that around 750 hectares of land belonging to 7,500 temples nationwide are registered under the name of natural persons, according to the Ministry of Interior.

This is the result of religious groups not having completed their temple registration when they acquired land, of temples being not able to pay land taxes on donated land or the land being used for farming and other reasons. Two years following the passing of the bill by the legislature, qualified religious groups seeking to change a temple’s registration will be able to file an application with the interior ministry. 

33 arrests in action against globally active money laundering network

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33 arrests in action against globally active money laundering network

The Hague, 31 May 2023

Judicial and law enforcement authorities in Italy and Spain have carried out a coordinated action against an organised crime group suspected of large-scale money laundering. During a joint action day supported by Eurojust and Europol, thirty-one suspects were arrested in Italy. Another two European Arrest Warrants were executed in Spain, with one person being arrested and a second person notified, as he currently serves a jail term.

The alleged members of the organised crime group built up a global network to launder proceeds from drug trafficking. By using this system, criminals were able to conceal the origin of these illegally acquired funds and avoid their detection. The network was active in several countries worldwide, including China, Türkiye and the United States.

The group made use of a money laundering service known as the ‘Black Market Peros Exchange’, in which payment for drugs of South American origin was processed via an elaborate trading scheme across several countries. Profits from the sale of the drugs in Europe were picked up by brokers and transferred to electronics companies, which in turn ordered specific goods, such as mobile phones. These goods were shipped to the United States before being transported to Colombia, where they were sold. This final step enabled the South American cartels to receive cash as a veiled payment for the drugs they had provided to European markets.

The elaborated scheme was unravelled during an international investigation led by the Italian Public Prosecutor Office of Trento and Guardia di Finanza – Economic and Financial Investigation Unit of Trento, and supported by Eurojust and Europol. In Italy alone, EUR 18.5 million could be traced back as money laundered for organised crime groups.

Eurojust assisted the investigations by organising three coordination meetings. The Italian representative at Eurojust worked in synergy with the Trento Public Prosecutor’s Office, coordinating and linking investigative activities with other European public prosecutors, to obtain data of the crypto chat Sky ECC and EncroChat, used by people under investigation to exchange messages related to cash withdrawals (so-called ‘money pick up’). The action day against the organised crime group was steered in real time from the Agency’s dedicated coordination centre.

Europol supported the case by providing intelligence, expertise and operational analysis, as well as financial support for operational meetings. During the action day, Europol deployed a money laundering specialist to the coordination centre hosted by Eurojust.

The following authorities took part in the investigation:

  • Italy: Trento Public Prosecutor’s Office, Guardia di Finanza, Nucleo Polizia Economico-Finanziaria di Trento
  • Spain: Policía Nacional

Dr. Nurlan Onzhanov introduced to the Bundestag

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Dr. Nurlan Onzhanov introduced to the Bundestag

Dr. Nurlan Onzhanov introduced to the Bundestag

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: Kazakhstan’s Ambassador in Germany, Dr. Nurlan Onzhanov was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the Speaker of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. Speaker Bas is in office since 26 October 2021, and joined the Bundestag back in 2009. 

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Länder. Whereas Kazakhstan is home to a bicameral legislature, namely a lower house (i.e., the Mazhilis), with 107 seats, (98 seats are from party lists, 9 hailing from the Assembly of People, a representation of the various ethnic groups of Kazakhstan) which are elected to five-year terms. The upper house is the Senate, which has 47 members.

Dr. Onzhanov is head of mission in Germany since 18 July 2022 upon his presentations of credentials before Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Ambassador Onzhanov (b. 25 November 1960) began his career at Almaty Pedagogical Institute for Foreign Languages in 1983. He has been posted throughout his career in Austria, Switzerland or in Frankfurt am Main serving as Consul General. He is rather well-acquainted to Germany having served already a term as ambassador in the country between 2008 and 2014 with a concurrency to the Kingdom of Denmark. 
Before arriving in Berlin, Onzhanov was Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan between 2019 and 2022. He holds extensive experience working within the presidential administration. 


Ambassador Onzhanov speaks fluent Kazakh, German, Russian and English. 

For further information 


Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan: http://www.parlam.kz/en/mazhilis

Embassy of Kazakhstan in Germany: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-berlin/about/structure/people/26558?lang=en

Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi met with Bundestag’s President Bas

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Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi met with Bundestag’s President Bas

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: The Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador in Germany, Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the President of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. President Bas is in office since 26 October 2021, and joined the Bundestag back in 2009.

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Bundesländer.

Whereas Oman is also home to a bicameral legislature, namely a lower house, or Consultative Council (مجلس الشورى) with 84 seats as well as a 83-heads strong State Council (مجلس الدولة), the upper house; fully appointed by His Majesty The Sultan of Oman. Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Maawali serves incumbently as the Chairman of the Consultative Council. 

For further information 
Consultative Council of Oman: https://www.shura.om

CA-EU meets in Ashgabat in support for Afghanistan

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CA-EU meets in Ashgabat in support for Afghanistan

Friday, 26 May 2023, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: The fourth meeting of the EU and Central Asia Special Representatives and Special Envoys for Afghanistan was held in the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan.

The forum was attended by special representatives and special envoys of the EU, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for Afghanistan and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan R.Otunbayeva, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, the Consuls General of Turkmenistan in Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. The directors of the World Bank branches in Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have also participated via videoconference.

During the meeting, a detailed exchange of views took place on priority issues of regional security and development, as well as problems related to the socio-economic situation in Afghanistan.

It was noted that meetings of special representatives in this format have become regular and serve as a positive platform for developing approaches to ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan.

The current meeting provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of information on events and the economic situation in Afghanistan, as well as an opportunity to discuss further cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The parties expressed their firm commitment to turning Afghanistan into a stable, peaceful and prosperous country and recognized the efforts of the international community to continue to provide assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the prospects for economic stabilization and recovery of Afghanistan were discussed, the importance of creating favorable conditions for economic activity, the financial and banking sector and the restoration of the socio-economic infrastructure in Afghanistan was noted.

The participants of the meeting stressed the need to continue dialogue and cooperation within the framework of the “Central Asia – European Union” format and expressed a common opinion that in order to stabilize the political, economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, a broad consolidation of the international community is necessary – the states of the world, primarily the Central Asian region, as well as authoritative international structures.

Interest was also expressed in close cooperation to implement of joint projects related to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the integration of the country into the system of global relations.

As a result of the meeting, a Joint Statement was adopted.

For further information 

Turkmen Foreign Ministry: https://www.mfa.gov.tm/en/news/3453

Melanie Huml welcomed by Jan Jambon in Brussels

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Melanie Huml welcomed by Jan Jambon in Brussels

Thursday, 25 May 2023, Brussels, Flanders, Kingdom of Belgium: Premier Jan Jambon received Bavaria’s State Minister for European and International Affairs, Melanie Huml, at his official residence. Inter alia, they discussed the future cooperation between Flanders and Bavaria and the Leaders Meeting, which Premier Jambon is organising in April 2024 to promote exchange between the thirteen strong innovative regions, which includes Bavaria.

Jan Jambon stressed that he sees the upcoming EU presidency of Belgium (January-June 2024) as a platform to portray Flanders is a state-of-the-art region with an active EU policy. To this end, he is organising the Leaders Meeting, “Fit for the Future: Global Challenges and Regional Solutions” on 18 April 2024. At this meeting, thirteen strong innovative regions – including Bavaria, Catalonia, and North Rhine-Westphalia – will highlight their best practices and innovative ideas to increase resilience to future shocks. Thus, they will send a signal to the European Union that the main levers for tackling global challenges are in the hands of the regions, while reaching out to each other for further cooperation with a view to better EU policies.

Both dignitaries likewise discussed closer future cooperation between Flanders and Bavaria in robotics and automation, hydrogen economy, inland navigation, and MedTech.

Premier Jan Jambon previously reinforced his ‘Strategy for the North’ with a working visit to Bavaria in 2021, when he opened a Flemish Science & Technology Office in Munich.

For further information 


Flanders Chancellery & Foreign Office: https://www.fdfa.be/en/minister-president-jan-jambon-receives-bavarian-minister-melanie-huml

UKRAINE: 110 damaged religious sites inspected and documented by UNESCO

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UKRAINE: 110 damaged religious sites inspected and documented by UNESCO

By Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers

As of 17 May 2023, UNESCO has verified damage to 256 sites since 24 February 2022 – 110 religious sites, 22 museums, 92 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 19 monuments, 12 libraries, 1 Archive. 

Report of the Ukrainian Institute for Religious Freedom (January 2023)

As a result of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 494 religious buildings, theological institutions, and sacred places were wholly destroyed, damaged, or looted by the Russian military, according to the Ukrainian Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF). 

IRF presented this last updated data on the impact of the war on Ukrainian religious communities on January 31 and February 1 during the Summit on International Religious Freedom (IRF Summit 2023) held in Washington, D.C.

Most churches, mosques, and synagogues were destroyed in Donetsk region (at least 120) and Luhansk region (more than 70). The scale of destruction is also enormous in Kyiv region (70), where desperate battles were fought in defense of the capital, and in Kharkiv region – more than 50 destroyed religious buildings. Russian air raids, including those using Iranian drones, have affected almost all regions of Ukraine and continue to this day.

Churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate) suffered the most from Russian aggression – at least 143 were destroyed. 

The scale of destruction of evangelical church prayer houses is immense – at least 170 in total, of which most affected were Evangelical Christian churches – 75, Evangelical Baptist Christian prayer houses – 49, and Seventh-day Adventist churches – 24.

The updated IRF data also contains information on the destruction of the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses – a total of 94 religious buildings, of which seven were utterly destroyed, 17 were severely damaged, and 70 were insignificantly damaged. 

UNESCO’s policy

UNESCO is conducting a preliminary damage assessment for cultural properties* by cross-checking the reported incidents with multiple credible sources. These published data which are regularly updated do not commit the Organization. UNESCO is also developing, with its partner organizations, a mechanism for independent coordinated assessment of data in Ukraine, including satellite image analysis, in line with provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

*The term “cultural property” refers to immovable cultural property as defined under Article 1 of the 1954 Hague Convention, irrespective of its origin, ownership or status of registration in the national inventory, and facilities and monuments dedicated to culture, including memorials.

The Organization is in contact with Ukrainian authorities to mark cultural sites and monuments with the distinctive “Blue Shield” emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict to avoid deliberate or accidental damages.

Properties inscribed on World Heritage list, such as the site of “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, are considered a priority. 

Comment of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

The first challenge is to mark cultural heritage sites and monuments and recall their special status as protected areas under international law.

To date, no UNESCO World Heritage site appears to have been damaged.

UNESCO also assisted the Ukrainian authorities in marking cultural sites with the distinctive blue shield emblem. This symbol indicates that the property is protected under the 1954 Hague Convention. Therefore, any infringement is considered a violation of international law and can be prosecuted. It should also be noted that none of the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites have been affected to date.

Laying the foundations for future reconstruction

By recording and documenting the damage and destruction of cultural sites, UNESCO not only warns of the seriousness of the situation, but also prepares for future reconstruction. Although it is still too early to start work, the UN organization has already created a fund dedicated to actions in support of Ukraine and has launched an appeal for contributions to its Member States for a rapid response.

List of damaged religious and cultural sites per region as of 17 May 2023 (See the details of the list below HERE)

  • Donetsk Region: 71 damaged sites
  • Kharkiv Region: 55 damaged sites
  • Kyiv Region: 38 damaged sites
  • Luhansk Region: 32 damaged sites
  • Chernihiv Region: 17 damaged sites
  • Sumy Region: 12 damaged sites
  • Zaporizhia Region: 11 damaged sites
  • Mykolaiv Region: 7 damaged sites
  • Kherson Region: 4 damaged sites
  • Zhytomyr Region: 3 damaged sites
  • Vinnytsia Ragion: 2 damaged sites
  • Dnipropetrovk Region: 1 damaged site
  • Odesa Region: 1 damaged site

Previous assessments and some UNESCO declarations 

On 23 June 2022, according to the checks carried out by UNESCO’s experts, 152 cultural sites had been partially or totally destroyed as a result of the fighting, including 70 religious buildings, 30 historical buildings, 18 cultural centres, 15 monuments, 12 museums and seven libraries.

Comment of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

“These repeated attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites must stop. Cultural heritage, in all its forms, should not be targeted under any circumstances. I reiterate my call for the respect of international humanitarian law, in particular the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.”

On 8 March 2022, UNESCO published a statement saying it was in permanent contact with all relevant institutions, as well as with Ukrainian cultural professionals, to assess the situation and to reinforce the protection of cultural properties. 

UNESCO provided technical advice to cultural professionals in the field to protect buildings. Inventory works and shelters were identified to secure objects that could be moved, and fire-fighting measures were reinforced.

Comment of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

We must safeguard the cultural heritage in Ukraine, as a testimony of the past but also as a catalyst for peace and cohesion for the future, which the international community has a duty to protect and preserve.

Lorenzo Ravano received by Bundestag Speaker

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Lorenzo Ravano received by Bundestag Speaker

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: Monaco’s Princely Ambassador in Germany, Lorenzo Ravano was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the Speaker of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. Speaker Bas is in office since 26 October 2021.

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Länder.

Whereas Monaco is home to but a unilateral National Council (Conseil nationale) with 24 seats, currently presided over by Speaker Brigitte Boccone-Pagès. 

For further information 
Monaco’s National Council: https://www.conseil-national.mc

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