1st deaf politician to take seat in Germany's parliament

Bavarian politician Heike Heubach will become the first deaf member of Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, reported dpa.

Heubach, a 44-year-old Social Democrat (SPD), is slated to take the seat of current SPD lawmaker Uli Grötsch, who is leaving the Bundestag to serve as the commissioner of Germany's Federal Police.

Heubach stood as a candidate in the Augsburg-Land constituency in the 2021 parliamentary elections, but she was narrowly defeated.

The president of the German Federation of the Deaf, Helmut Vogel, called Heubach's selection for the Bundestag "a significant step for the sign-language community" in Germany.

Vogel told the Funke Media newspaper chain on Saturday that Heubach's appointment fulfils the long-held hope of the deaf community "that a deaf person is represented in the heart of German democracy."

Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, a fellow Social Democrat, called Heubach's entry into the Bundestag a "strong sign" of inclusion.

"The Bundestag administration has been preparing intensively for months to enable Heike Heubach to carry out her mandate largely without barriers," Bas told the Funke newspapers.

Just like all other lawmakers, Heubach must be able to represent the people in her constituency, carry out her work in the committees and take part in debates in the plenary, Bas said.

According to Bas, sign language interpretation will be provided in the plenary chamber, and an interpreter will translate her speeches in the plenary chamber.

"My staff are in close contact with Heike Heubach for further assistance with the work in her parliamentary office," said Bas.