Berlin state parliament holds first session following September election

BERLIN, GERMANY - OCT. 29: Members of the Berlin House of Representatives gathered for the state parliament's constituent session in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, Oct. 29, following the election held on Sept. 20.

Hendrikje Klein, the newly elected president of the Berlin House of Representatives and a member of The Left party, addressed lawmakers during the session.

The meeting marked the beginning of a new five-year legislative term, with 153 lawmakers taking seats in the parliament, six fewer than in the previous term.

The Left emerged as the largest parliamentary group with 45 seats, followed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 33, Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 29, the Greens with 25 and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 21.