Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert

Chair of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung foundation

Without even looking at what it achieved, the Weimar National Assembly already stands out in the history of German democracy as the first and only constitutional convention ever chosen by voters in general, democratic elections. It was and still is linked with the introduction of women’s suffrage. With this advance, the politically rather backwards Germany of the time overtook the neighboring long-standing democracies that were looked to as progressive societies. This is one of Weimar democracy’s few lasting achievements.