Wahlkreisarbeit in der Pandemie: Mehr Adaption als Transformation

The Covid-19 pandemic is causing massive restrictions on public life worldwide, affecting the work of parliamentarians in their districts as well. Based on interviews with 33 members of the German Bundestag, activities “back home” during the early phase of the pandemic are analyzed and compared to information from an earlier study. After a brief phase of adaptation, new digital ways of work were used by MPs and their district offices, sometimes leading to closer networking with party and constituency and giving them new spatial flexibility. A strong use of new social media also became apparent but that is only partly caused by Covid-19. The focus of representation has changed towards a clearer regional orientation and more pronunciation of the leadership function. But all in all, district work of MPs in Germany has continued with only minor changes.