Father of the House

{{Short description|Longest-serving continuous member of parliament}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} '''Father of the House''' is a title that has been traditionally bestowed, unofficially, on certain members of some [[legislature]]s, most notably the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|House of Commons]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. In some legislatures the title refers to the longest continuously serving member, while in others it refers to the oldest member. Recently, the title '''Mother of the House''' or Mother of Parliament has also been used, although the usage varies among countries; it is either the female alternative to Father of the House, being applied when the relevant member is a woman, or refers to the oldest or longest-serving woman without reference to male members.

==United Kingdom== {{Main|Father of the House (United Kingdom)}} [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP crop 2.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Edward Leigh]], the incumbent Father of the UK House of Commons]]

The Father of the House is a title that is bestowed on the [[Seniority|senior]] male member of the House of Commons who has the longest continuous service.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Richard |last2=Priddy |first2=Sarah |date=17 December 2019 |title=Father of the House |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06399/SN06399.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831061627/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06399/SN06399.pdf |archive-date=31 August 2021 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] |series=Briefing Paper Number 06399 |publisher=[[House of Commons Library]]}}</ref><ref name="hciom3">{{cite web |last=House of Commons Information Office |author-link=House of Commons Information Office |date=November 2006 |orig-date=2005 |title=The Father of the House |url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m03.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325142809/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m03.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |access-date=5 October 2009 |work=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] |series=Factsheet M3 Members Series}}</ref> If two or more members have the same length of current uninterrupted service, then whoever was sworn in earlier, as listed in ''[[Hansard]]'', is named as Father of the House.<ref name="Moss">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/02/labour-mp-dennis-skinner-at-83-interview | title=Labour's Dennis Skinner at 83: 'Father of the House? You must be joking' | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=2 May 2015 | access-date=2 May 2015 | author=Moss, Stephen}}</ref> Traditionally, however, the qualifications used for the Father of the House are not entirely clear and may have included the oldest member, the member with the longest aggregate service, or the member who entered the House longest ago.<ref name="hciom3" /> The first recorded usage of the term dates to 1788, in an obituary of [[Thomas Noel (MP)|Thomas Noel]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2017, [[Harriet Harman]] was described as "[[Mother of the House (United Kingdom)|Mother of the House]]" by Prime Minister [[Theresa May]], in recognition of her status as the longest-continuously serving woman MP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-06-13/debates/EC97CC8B-CEAB-4D1D-8AEE-12D83E9E0253/ElectionOfSpeaker|title=Election of Speaker|date=13 June 2017|publisher=Commons | location=UK | work=Hansard}}</ref> During speeches at the re-opening of Parliament after the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 General Election]], [[Diane Abbott]] was also described as the "Mother of the House" by Prime Minister [[Keir Starmer]], and then [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] [[Rishi Sunak]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2024/07/09/diane-abbott-speaks-for-first-time-as-mother-of-the-house/|title=Diane Abbott speaks for first time as Mother of the House|date=9 July 2024|publisher=Shropshire Star | location=UK}}</ref>

The only formal duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]]. The Father of the House may also participate in ceremonial events, and is the second member to be sworn in after the Speaker.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2024 |title=Swearing In and the Parliamentary Oath |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/swearingin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512051909/https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/swearingin/ |archive-date=12 May 2010 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]]}}</ref>

Among the twentieth-century Fathers, there were several very prominent figures; four former prime ministers became Father of the House,<ref>{{Cite web |last=House of Commons Information Office |author-link=House of Commons Information Office |date=June 2010 |title=The Father of the House |url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m03.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108085421/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m03.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2020 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] |series=Factsheet M3 Members Series FS No.M3 Ed 3.6 |page=4 |issn=0144-4689}}</ref> and a fifth, [[Henry Campbell-Bannerman]], was simultaneously Father of the House and Prime Minister from 22 May 1907 until shortly before his death on 22 April 1908.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Prime Ministers: Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/henry-campbell-bannerman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005102203/https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/henry-campbell-bannerman |archive-date=5 October 2013 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=[[gov.uk]]}}</ref>

=== Devolved legislatures === In the [[Senedd]] of Wales, Father of the House is an official title bestowed on the longest-serving [[Member of the Senedd]]. The first to hold the title was [[Rod Richards]], who was the first member to be sworn in following the [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|first election]] to the legislature in 1999, while the current father is [[John Griffiths (Welsh politician)|John Griffiths]], who was also elected in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2000 |title=Richards may face ethics panel |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/813138.stm |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 June 2000 |title=A colourful and controversial character |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/800500.stm |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Portillo |first=Sam |date=3 March 2024 |title=John Griffiths interview: Poverty in Pill and the Senedd |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24148701.john-griffiths-interview-poverty-pill-senedd/ |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=South Wales Argus}}</ref> In the [[Scottish Parliament]], both Father of the House and Mother of the House are used for the longest serving [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|Members of the Scottish Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2014 |title=John Farquhar Munro - obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10631478/John-Farquhar-Munro-obituary.html |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Gina |date=10 May 2021 |title=Scottish Election 2021: Who will be the next Presiding Officer? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-election-2021-who-will-be-the-next-presiding-officer-3229993 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=The Scotsman}}</ref> The current mother is [[Christine Grahame]] while the current father is [[John Swinney]], who were both first elected at the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalgety |first=Susan |date=2021-05-08 |title=Will a more female Holyrood make a difference to women's lives? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-a-more-female-holyrood-make-a-difference-to-women-s-lives/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsMwAQAAMAAJ |title=Facts on File World News Digest Yearbook |date=2000 |publisher=Facts on File News Services |page=809 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] also grants the title of Father of the House to its longest serving male member.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCormack |first=Jayne |date=26 March 2022 |title=NI election 2022: Which MLAs are standing down from Stormont? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60860518 |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 2016 |title=Arlene Foster exerts her authority over Jim Wells selection in South Down |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/arlene-foster-exerts-her-authority-over-jim-wells-selection-in-south-down/34519768.html |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> The current father is [[Alan Chambers (Northern Ireland politician)|Alan Chambers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manley |first=John |date=17 January 2024 |title=Stormont sketch: There's a growing sense we won't be back on the hill any time soon |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/stormont-sketch-theres-a-growing-sense-we-wont-be-back-on-the-hill-any-time-soon-OSPURMKVFFH6VPVIEV7GONLS3U/ |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Irish News}}</ref>

==Australia== {{Main|List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of Australia}} [[File:Bob Katter.jpg|thumb|[[Bob Katter]], the incumbent Father of the house]] The titles "Father of the House" and "Father of the Senate" are sometimes used to refer to the members of each chamber of the [[Parliament of Australia]] with the longest continuous service.<ref name=abc>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-10/who-will-be-the-father-of-the-house-when-philip-ruddock-retires/9388744|title=Who will be the Father of the House when Philip Ruddock Retires?|first=Antony|last=Green|work=ABC News|date=20 March 2018|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> The current Father of the House is [[Bob Katter]] (MP since 1993) and the current Mother of the Senate is [[Penny Wong]] (senator since 2002).

According to ''House of Representatives Practice'', the title Father of the House is a "completely informal designation" with "no functions attached to it".<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice6/Practice6HTML?file=Chapter5&section=10|chapter=Titles accorded to members|title=House of Representatives Practice|publisher=Parliament of Australia|year=2012|edition=6th}}</ref> The equivalent publication for the Senate, ''Odgers' Australian Senate Practice'', describes the title Father of the Senate as "now seldom referred to or used". It also notes that "as no woman senator has ever been in this situation, it is not clear what the title would be in that circumstance".<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Odgers_Australian_Senate_Practice/Chapter_06|chapter=Seniority of senators|title=Odgers' Australian Senate Practice|publisher=Parliament of Australia|year=2016|edition=14th}}</ref>

==Canada== {{Main|Dean of the House (Canada)}} The longest-serving member of the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] who is not a cabinet minister is known as the Dean of the House, and presides over the election of the [[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada|Speaker]] at the beginning of each Parliament. The current Dean of the House is [[Bloc Québécois]] MP [[Louis Plamondon]], who was first elected to the Commons as a member of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] in 1984 and serving as the Dean of the House since 2008.

==Czech Republic== In the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]], if previous [[President of the Chamber of Deputies (Czech Republic)|president]] of the Chamber of Deputies or his deputies are not elected, the oldest MP serves as the acting president presiding over the constitutive session, before new president is elected.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.psp.cz/docs/laws/1995/90.html | title=Zákon o jednacím řádu Poslanecké sněmovny }}</ref> * 1993: Robert Dostál — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 1996: [[Zdeněk Jičínský]] — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] *1998: [[Augustin Bubník]] — [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]] * 2002: {{Interlanguage link|Břetislav Petr|cz|Břetislav Petr}} — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 2003: [[Zdeněk Jičínský]] — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 2010: [[Karel Schwarzenberg]] — [[TOP 09]] * 2021: [[Bohuslav Svoboda]] — [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]]

In the [[Senate of the Czech Republic|Senate]], if previous [[President of the Senate of the Czech Republic|president]] of the Senate or his deputies are not elected for the next term, the oldest senator serves as the acting president presiding over the opening session gathered every two years, before election of the new president.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senat.cz/informace/zakon106/zakony/zak107.php |title=Rules of Procedure of the Senate|date=January 2012 }}</ref> * 1996: Jaroslav Musial — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] *2000: [[Jaroslava Moserová]] — [[Civic Democratic Alliance]] * 2004: [[Bedřich Moldan]] — [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]] * 2010: [[Jiří Dienstbier]] — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 2011: Pavel Lebeda — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 2014: [[František Čuba]] — [[Party of Civic Rights]] * 2018: Jaroslav Malý — [[Czech Social Democratic Party]] * 2020: Jaroslav Doubrava — [[Severočeši.cz]] * 2022: Jan Pirk – [[TOP 09]]

== European Parliament == {{main|Oldest Member (European Parliament)}} Until 2009, the oldest member of the European Parliament presided over the opening of a new session and the election of the [[president of the European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Traynor |first1=Ian |title=MEPs deny Jean-Marie Le Pen parliamentary honour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/06/jean-marie-le-pen-european-parliament |access-date=16 July 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=6 May 2009}}</ref>

==Finland== {| class=wikitable ! Member ! Born ! Entered parliament ! Became oldest member |- |[[Iisakki Hoikka]] || 1840 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1907–1908 |- |[[John Hedberg]] || 1840 || [[1908 Finnish parliamentary election|1908]] ||1908–1909 |- |[[Leo Mechelin]] || 1839 || [[1910 Finnish parliamentary election|1910]] ||1910–1913 |- |John Hedberg || 1840 || 1908 ||1914 |- |[[Axel Lille]] || 1848 || [[1916 Finnish parliamentary election|1916]] ||1917 |- |[[Rabbe Wrede]]|| 1851 || [[1910 Finnish parliamentary election|1910]] ||1917–1918 |- |[[Wilhelmi Malmivaara]] || 1854 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1919 |- |[[Artur Wuorimaa]] || 1854 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1920–1921 |- |[[Waldemar Bergroth]] || 1852 || [[1917 Finnish parliamentary election|1917]] || 1922–1926 |- |[[Juho Torppa]] || 1859 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1927–1929 |- |[[Anders Forsberg]]|| 1864 || [[1924 Finnish parliamentary election|1924]] ||1929–1930 |- |[[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud]] || 1861 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1930–1931 |- |[[K. J. Ståhlberg]] || 1865 || [[1908 Finnish parliamentary election|1908]] ||1932 |- |[[Matti Paasivuori]] || 1866 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1933–1935 |- |[[Miina Sillanpää]] || 1866 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1936–1947 |- |[[Akseli Brander]] || 1876 || [[1933 Finnish parliamentary election|1933]] ||1948–1950 |- |[[Väinö Tanner]] || 1881 || [[1907 Finnish parliamentary election|1907]] ||1951–1953 |- |[[Matti Lahtela]]|| 1881 || [[1930 Finnish parliamentary election|1930]] ||1954–1957 |- |Väinö Tanner || 1881 || 1907 ||1958–1961 |- |[[Raino Hallberg]]|| 1890 || [[1951 Finnish parliamentary election|1951]] ||1962–1965 |- |[[Kustaa Tiitu]] || 1896 || [[1945 Finnish parliamentary election|1945]] ||1966–1969 |- |[[Rafael Paasio]] || 1903 || [[1948 Finnish parliamentary election|1948]] ||1970–1975 |- |[[Evald Häggblom]]|| 1905 || [[1966 Finnish parliamentary election|1966]] ||1975, 1''976'' |- |[[V. J. Sukselainen]] || 1906 || [[1948 Finnish parliamentary election|1948]] ||1976–1978 |- |[[Mikko Kaarna]]|| 1911 || 1960 ||1979–1982 |- |[[Tuure Junnila]] || 1910 || [[1951 Finnish parliamentary election|1951]] ||1983–1986 |- |[[Johannes Virolainen]] || 1914 || [[1945 Finnish parliamentary election|1945]] ||1987–1989 |- |Tuure Junnila || 1910 || 1951 (again 1990) ||1990 |- |[[Maunu Kohijoki]]|| 1923 || [[1987 Finnish parliamentary election|1987]] ||1991–1994 |- |[[Martti Tiuri]]|| 1925 || [[1983 Finnish parliamentary election|1983]] ||1995–2002 |- |[[Kalevi Lamminen]]|| 1935 || [[1987 Finnish parliamentary election|1987]] ||2003–2006 |- |[[Claes Andersson]] || 1937 || [[1987 Finnish parliamentary election|1987]] ||2007–2008 |- |[[Jacob Söderman]]<ref>Söderman toimi puhemiesvaalin toimittajana, koska Andersson oli sairauslomalla; Hs.fi: [http://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/arkisto/Sauli+Niinist%C3%B6+jatkaa+puhemiehen%C3%A4/aaHS20090204SI1YO0211u?src=haku&ref=arkisto%2F Sauli Niinistö jatkaa eduskunnan puhemiehenä]. Viitattu 24.4.2015. {{in lang|fi}}</ref> || 1938 || [[1972 Finnish parliamentary election|1972]] || 2008<ref>Eduskunta: [http://www.eduskunta.fi/valtiopaivaasiakirjat/ptk+1/2008 Täysistunnon pöytäkirja PTK 1/2008 vp] {{in lang|fi}}</ref><ref>Eduskunta: [http://www.eduskunta.fi/valtiopaivaasiakirjat/ptk+1/2009 Täysistunnon pöytäkirja PTK 1/2009 vp] {{in lang|fi}}</ref>-2010 |- |[[Kauko Tuupainen]] || 1940 || [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election|2011]] ||2011–2013 |- |[[Jörn Donner]] || 1933 || [[1987 Finnish parliamentary election|1987]] (again 2013) ||2014 |- |[[Pertti Salolainen]] || 1940 || [[1970 Finnish parliamentary election|1970]] ||2015–2018 |- |[[Erkki Tuomioja]] || 1946 || [[1970 Finnish parliamentary election|1970]] ||2019–2022 |- |[[Kimmo Kiljunen]] || 1951 || [[1995 Finnish parliamentary election|1995]] ||2023– |}

==Germany== {{Main|President by right of age of the Bundestag}} Starting with the Frankfurter Nationalversammlung ([[Frankfurt Parliament]]) of 1848, and based on older regional traditions, basically all German nation-wide, state-level and lower parliaments had a father of the House at the start of each legislative period, usually called ''Alterspräsident'' (President by right of age). This [[Politician|elder statesman]] steps forward to break the tie among equal members, to open the proceedings and to arrange the very first self-organizing election without external help from e.g. parliament employees. Then, the elected president takes over.

This tradition was continued from the [[North German Confederation]] into the 1871 [[German Empire]] (also known as [[Weimar Republic]] after 1918) and, after being discontinued in [[Nazi Germany]], was resumed in 1949 by the present Parliament ([[Bundestag]]) in the [[Germany|Federal Republic]] until it was discontinued again before the [[2017 German federal election]] to prevent any member of the upcoming [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD), or any other new party, as the position was changed to refer to the longest sitting member. Thus the meaning of ''Alter'' (age, literally oldness) was shifted from ''Lebensalter'' (age of life) to ''Dienstalter'' (age of service).

In accordance with tradition up to 2013, the ''Alterspräsident'' first ascertained himself that he was indeed the oldest member of the Bundestag by stating his date of birth and asking if anyone is present who was born before this date. If no older member of the Bundestag was present he would formally declare that he indeed is the Alterspräsident and will start proceedings. Starting from 2017, the prospective Alterspräsident states the number of years served in the Bundestag and asks if anyone has served more years.

The ''Alterspräsident'' then greets the present members and delivers the first programmatic speech. After appointing members to write down notes, the identity, affiliation to parties or factions and number of members is checked. The largest faction usually is asked who they propose as candidate for president, and according to another tradition, this candidate is then elected without much controversy. After supervising the election of the [[president of the Bundestag]] the ''Alterspräsident'' immediately yields his power to the elected president who, after receiving congratulations, takes over. The newly elected president will in turn supervise the elections of the vice presidents who form the [[Presidium of the Bundestag]] that organizes parliament sessions. Usually, each recognized faction proposes a candidate that is elected without much controversy. Since 2017, none of over 40 AfD candidates has been elected as Bundestags-Vizepräsident, though, while some state parliaments have elected an AfD vice president. In addition, the factions appoint members for the ''Ältestenrat'', the [[Council of Elders of the Bundestag]], which organizes the parliament work behind the scenes.

The rules of order of the Bundestag also state that the ''Alterspräsident'' shall preside over sessions of the Bundestag at any given time during a legislative period, if the whole Presidium (i.e. the president and the vice presidents of the Bundestag) is altogether unable to perform its duties. With the number of vice presidents growing over time, this became unlikely.

As the ''Alterspräsident'''s opening speech usually draws a certain amount of public attention, the position has recently attracted controversy, when after German Reunification the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (the successor of the [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany]] which had ruled communist East Germany) obtained the position by including aged independents (writer [[Stefan Heym]] in 1994, [[Fred Gebhardt]] in 1998) in their party lists. In 2017, facing the new AfD, the Bundestag changed its rules of procedure to have the member with the longest service in the Bundestag serve as father of the house, rather than the oldest member, especially as the oldest member of the Bundestag at the time, [[Wilhelm von Gottberg]], was a Holocaust denier;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schultheis |first=Emily |date=2018-02-05 |title=Fear and Loathing in the Bundestag |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/germany-afd-merkel-spd-populism-immigrants/552278/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundestag.de/parlament/aufgaben/rechtsgrundlagen/go_btg/go01-245154|title=Deutscher Bundestag - I. Wahl des Präsidenten, der Stellvertreter und Schriftführer|website=Deutscher Bundestag}}</ref> however, these changed rules of procedure nonetheless allowed [[Gregor Gysi]] of [[Die Linke]] (the successor of the PDS, of which he was the founder and inaugural leader) to attain this position.

{|class="wikitable" |+Alterspräsidenten of the German Bundestag |- !colspan="2" | Bundestag !Name !Term !align="center" | Parliamentary party !Notes |- | 1 ||1949–1953 || [[Paul Löbe]] (1875–1967)|| 1949–1953 || [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] || longtime [[Presidium of the Reichstag (Weimar Republic)|Reichstagspräsident]] during the [[Weimar Republic]] |- | 2 ||1953–1957 || [[Marie Elisabeth Lüders]] (1878–1966)|| 1953–1957 || [[Freie Demokratische Partei|FDP]] || rowspan="3" | stood in for [[Konrad Adenauer]], the oldest member, who refused the position due to his position as Chancellor |- | 3 ||1957–1961 || Marie Elisabeth Lüders || 1957–1961 || FDP |- |rowspan="2" | 4 || rowspan="2" | 1961–1965 || [[Robert Pferdmenges]] (1880–1962) || 1961–1962|| [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]] |- | [[Konrad Adenauer]] (1876–1967) || 1963–1965 || CDU|| assumed the position after his resignation as Chancellor{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} |- |rowspan="2" | 5 ||rowspan="2" | 1965–1969 || Konrad Adenauer || 1965–1967 || CDU|| died in 1967 |- | [[William Borm]] (1895–1987) || 1967–1969 || [[Freie Demokratische Partei|FDP]] || |- | 6 || 1969–1972 || William Borm || 1969–1972 || FDP || |- | 7 || 1972–1976 || [[Ludwig Erhard]] (1897–1977) || 1972–1976 || [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]] || |- |rowspan="2" | 8 || rowspan="2" | 1976–1980 ||Ludwig Erhard || 1976–1977 || CDU || died in 1977 |- | [[Johann Baptist Gradl]] (1904–1988) || 1977–1980 || CDU || |- | 9 || 1980–1983 || [[Herbert Wehner]] (1906–1990) || 1980–1983 || [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] || |- | 10 || 1983–1987 || [[Willy Brandt]] (1913–1992) || 1983–1987 || SPD|| stood in for [[Egon Franke (politician)|Egon Franke]], who refused the position because of criminal investigations conducted against him at the beginning of the legislative period |- | 11 || 1987–1990 || Willy Brandt || 1987–1990 || SPD || |- |rowspan="2" | 12 || rowspan="2" | 1990–1994 || Willy Brandt || 1990–1992 || SPD || died in 1992 |- | [[Alfred Dregger]] (1920–2002) || 1992–1994 || [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]] || |- |rowspan="2" | 13 ||rowspan="2" | 1994–1998 || [[Stefan Heym]] (1913–2001) || 1994–1995 || [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|PDS]] || resigned his seat in 1995 |- | [[Alfred Dregger]] (1920–2002)|| 1995–1998 || [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]] || |- |rowspan="2" | 14 ||rowspan="2" | 1998–2002 || [[Fred Gebhardt]] (1928–2000) || 1998–2000 || [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|PDS]] || died in 2000 |- | [[Hans-Eberhard Urbaniak]] (born 1929) || 2000–2002 || [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] || |- | 15 || 2002–2005 || rowspan="2" | [[Otto Schily]] (born 1932) || 2002–2005 || SPD || |- | 16 || 2005–2009 || 2005–2009 || SPD || |- | 17 || 2009–2013 || rowspan="2" | [[Heinz Riesenhuber]] (born 1935) || 2009–2013 || [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]] || |- | 18 || 2013–2017 || 2013–2017 || CDU|| |- | 19 || 2017–2021 || [[Hermann Otto Solms]] (born 1940, member of parliament for 33 years, 1980–2013 and 2017–2021) || 2017–2021 || FDP || The first father of the house under the changed rules of procedure. Stood in for [[Wolfgang Schäuble]] (member of parliament for 45 years, since 1972), who was nominated (and subsequently elected) President of the Bundestag, so that he would not have to preside over his own election. |- | rowspan="2" | 20 || rowspan="2" | 2021–2025 || [[Wolfgang Schäuble]] (1942–2023, member of parliament 1972–2023) || 2021–2023 || CDU || |- | [[Peter Ramsauer]] (born 1954, member of parliament since 1990) || 2023–2025 || CSU || |- | 20 || since 2025 || [[Gregor Gysi]] (born 1948, member of parliament for 32 years, 1990–2002 and since 2005) || 2025– || Die Linke || |}

==Hong Kong== {{main|Senior Unofficial Member}} In Hong Kong, there is no such term as "Father of the House". Instead, the longest-serving member was termed the [[Senior Unofficial Member]] and was the highest-ranking unofficial member of the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] and the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] until the title was abolished in 1995 and 1992 respectively.

After the [[handover of Hong Kong]], the member of the Legislative Council with the highest order of precedence, determined according to the length of continuous service in the council, was tasked with presiding over the election of President of the council, until 2017.

== Hungary == In Hungary, the term {{lang|hu|országgyűlés korelnöke}} (President by the age) refers to the oldest member of the [[National Assembly (Hungary)|National Assembly]] (previously [[Diet of Hungary|House of Representatives]], the lower house). Before the open session, the senior chairperson and junior notaries review the mandates of all the elected MPs in addition to their own. The member presides over the newly elected parliament until the appointment of the officials.

[[József Madarász]] who was Father of the House from 1892 to his death in 1915 at the age of 100, was also member of the Parliament from 1848 (whenever it was convened) and prior to that he was emissary of the Hungarian Diet, the predecessor of Parliament in Hungary, from 1832. Thus making him the longest serving member of Parliament in Hungary at a record of 82 years.

{| class=wikitable ! colspan=2 | Member ! Party ! Entered Parliament ! Became oldest member ! Left House |- | style="background-color:#BE1F2E" | | rowspan=2 | [[Géza Malasits]] | [[Hungarian Social Democratic Party|MSZDP]] | rowspan=2 | 1924 | rowspan=2 | 1945 | rowspan=2 | 1948 † |- | style="background-color:Red" | | [[Hungarian Working People's Party|MDP]] |- | style="background-color:#50C878" | | [[Dezső Pattantyús-Ábrahám]] | [[Independent Hungarian Democratic Party|FMDP]] | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" | | [[Ferenc Harrer]] | [[Independent (politics)|Ind.]] | 1949 | 1949 | 1969 † |- | style="background-color:Red" | | Janka Stark | [[Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party|MSZMP]] | 1958 | 1969 | 1975 |- | style="background-color:Red" | | László Pesta | [[Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party|MSZMP]] | 1949 | 1975 | 1990 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Hungarian Democratic Forum}}" | | [[Kálmán Kéri]] | [[Hungarian Democratic Forum|MDF]] | 1990 | 1990 | 1994 † |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party}}" | | {{Interlanguage link|Vince Vörös|hu|Vörös Vince}} | [[Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party|FKGP]] | 1990 | 1994 | 1994 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary)}}" | | rowspan=2 | {{Interlanguage link|László Varga (politician, 1910)|lt=László Varga|hu|Varga László (politikus, 1910–2003)}} | [[Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary)|KDNP]] | rowspan=2 | 1994 | rowspan=2 | 1994 | rowspan=2 | 2003 † |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Fidesz}}" | | [[Fidesz]] |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Fidesz}}" | | [[János Horváth (politician)|János Horváth]] | [[Fidesz]] | 1998 | 2003 | 2014 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Fidesz}}" | | [[Béla Turi-Kovács]] | [[Fidesz]] | 1998 | 2014 | 2023 † |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Fidesz}}" | | [[János Fónagy]] | [[Fidesz]] | 1998 | 2023 | 2026 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Fidesz}}" | | [[István Vitányi]] | [[Fidesz]] | 1998 | 2026 | |}

== Israel == In the beginning of some [[Knesset]]s, the oldest member assumes temporary duties of the speaker before the election of a permanent [[speaker (politics)|speaker]], In the past it was the oldest member of Knesset, now it is the longest-serving member. The oldest member of the [[List of members of the twenty-fifth Knesset|25th Knesset]] is [[Benjamin Netanyahu]].

==Ireland== {{Main|Father of the Dáil}} In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the term '''Father of the Dáil''' is an unofficial title applied to the [[Records of members of the Oireachtas|longest-serving Teachta Dála]] (TD) in [[Dáil Éireann]]. The current Father of the Dáil is [[Willie O'Dea]] having been first elected to the Dáil in the [[February 1982 Irish general election|February 1982 general election]]. On a number of occasions, two or more people have shared the position of Father of the Dáil.

==Luxembourg== In [[Luxembourg]]'s unicameral parliament, the [[Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg)|Chamber of Deputies]], there is no formal title for the oldest member. Per the Chamber's regulations, the longest-serving deputy (variously known as the ''doyen'' in French or ''déngschteelsten Députéierten'' in Luxembourgish) serves as [[List of presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg|President of the Chamber]] during the first session of a legislature, until a president is formally elected. They are assisted in this task by the two [[Baby of the House#Luxembourg|youngest members]], known as ''secrétaires d'âge''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chd.lu/fr/reglement-de-la-chambre |title=Règlement de la Chambre |website=chd.lu |language=fr}}</ref> Until 2004, the role was fulfilled by the oldest member (''doyen d'âge'').

Two deputies have served both as ''secrétaire d'âge'' and ''doyen'' over their careers: Jean Spautz (1959 and 1999) and Michel Wolter (1984 and 2023).

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of deputies who have presided by virtue of being the longest serving member !Legislature ! colspan="2" | Member ! Party !First elected ! Time spent as member as of start of legislature |- | [[List of members of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg 2004–2009|2004–2009]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" | | [[Jean Asselborn]] | [[Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party|LSAP]] | [[1984 Luxembourg general election|1984]] | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1984|07|16|2004|07|13}}}} |- | [[List of members of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg 2009–2013|2009–2013]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | [[Lucien Weiler]] | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | [[1984 Luxembourg general election|1984]] | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1984|07|16|2009|07|08}}}} |- | [[2013 Luxembourg general election|2013–2018]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" | | [[Anne Brasseur]] | [[Democratic Party (Luxembourg)|DP]] | [[1979 Luxembourg general election|1979]] | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1984|07|13|2013|11|13}}}} |- | [[List of members of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg 2018–2023|2018–2023]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Alternative Democratic Reform Party}}" | | [[Gaston Gibéryen|Gast Gybérien]] | [[Alternative Democratic Reform Party|ADR]] | [[1989 Luxembourg general election|1989]] | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1989|07|18|2018|10|30}}}} |- | [[35th Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg|2023–2028]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | [[Michel Wolter]] | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | [[1984 Luxembourg general election|1984]] | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1994|01|17|2023|10|24}}}} |}

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of deputies who have presided by virtue of being the oldest member !Legislature ! colspan="2" | Member ! Party ! Born !Age at start of legislature |- | 1887–1890 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | rowspan="4" | Théodore de Wacquant | | rowspan="4" | 22 July 1815 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1815|07|22|1887|11|08}}}} |- | 1890–1893 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1815|07|22|1890|11|04}}}} |- | 1893–1896 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1815|07|22|1893|11|07 |- | 1896-1899 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | Théodore de Wacquant | | 22 July 1815 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1815|07|22|1896|11|10}}}}}}}} |- | 1896–1899 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1815|07|22|1896|11|10}}}} |- | 1899–1902 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | rowspan="4" | Jean Föhr | | rowspan="4" | 2 March 1819 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1819|03|02|1899|11|07}}}} |- | 1902–1905 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1819|03|02|1902|11|04}}}} |- | 1905–1908 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1819|03|02|1905|11|07}}}} |- | 1908–1911 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1819|03|02|1908|11|10}}}} |- | 1945–1948 | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" | | Nicolas Wirtgen | | 16 January 1866 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1866|01|16|1945|11|06}}}} |- | 1948–1951 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | rowspan="2" | Léon Kinsch | rowspan="2" | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | rowspan="2" | 10 November 1870 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1870|11|10|1948|07|20}}}} |- | 1951–1954 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1870|11|10|1951|07|10}}}} |- | 1954–1959 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | [[Émile Reuter]] | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | 2 August 1874 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1874|08|02|1954|07|06}}}} |- | 1959–1964 | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" | | François Cigrang | [[Democratic Party (Luxembourg)|DP]] | 1 March 1883 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1883|03|01|1959|03|05}}}} |- | 1964–1968 | style="background-color:{{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" | | Pierre Gansen | [[Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party|LSAP]] | 18 March 1896 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1896|03|18|1964|07|21}}}} |- | 1969–1974 | style="background-color:{{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" | | [[Antoine Krier]] | [[Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party|LSAP]] | 21 April 1897 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1897|04|21|1969|02|05}}}} |- | 1974–1979 | style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Luxembourg}}" | | Joseph Grandgenet | [[Communist Party of Luxembourg|KPL]] | 28 February 1898 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1898|02|28|1974|06|27}}}} |- | 1979–1984 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | rowspan="2" | Jean-Pierre Urwald | rowspan="2" | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | rowspan="2" | 29 January 1905 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1905|01|29|1979|07|06}}}} |- | 1984–1989 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1905|01|29|1984|07|16}}}} |- | 1989–1994 | style="background-color:{{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" | | Jos Brebsom | [[Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party|LSAP]] | 23 March 1913 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1913|03|23|1989|07|18}}}} |- | 1994–1999 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | Édouard Juncker | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | 30 July 1921 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1921|07|30|1994|07|18}}}} |- | 1999–2004 | style="background-color:{{party color|Christian Social People's Party}}" | | [[Jean Spautz]] | [[Christian Social People's Party|CSV]] | 9 September 1930 | {{formatnum:{{ayd|1930|09|30|1999|07|13}}}} |}

==Malaysia== {{further|Seniority in the Parliament of Malaysia}} In Malaysia, the term "Father of the House" is rarely used. However, [[Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah]], who was elected in 1974, was the previous longest-serving MP in the [[Dewan Rakyat]]. He was also the oldest MP between 2008 and 2018 (then-age 81), when former prime minister Tun Dr. [[Mahathir Mohamad]] was reelected to the Dewan Rakyat at the age of 92. Both of them ended their long tenures in the Dewan Rakyat after being defeated in [[2022 Malaysian general election]].

Since 2022, [[Tan Kok Wai]] is now the "Father of the House", having served as MP continuously since 1986, firstly for Sungai Besi (1986–1995) and now Cheras (1995–present).

==New Zealand== {{Main|Father of the House (New Zealand)}}

In New Zealand, the terms "Father of the House" and "Mother of the House", as unofficial titles, designate the longest-continuously serving male or female MP of the [[House of Representatives of New Zealand|House of Representatives]], respectively. The Father and Mother of the House have no official role in Parliament. The current Father of the House is [[Gerry Brownlee]] who has served continuously since {{NZ election link year|1996}}. The current Mother of the House is [[Judith Collins]] who has served continuously since {{NZ election link year|2002}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members of Parliament - Longest, shortest, oldest, youngest |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/mps-and-parliaments-1854-onwards/members-of-parliament-longest-shortest-oldest-youngest/ |website=www.parliament.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |access-date=20 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Norway == {| class="wikitable" ! Member ! Born ! Entered parliament ! Became oldest member |- |[[Morten Kolbjørnsen]] || 1958 || [[2025 Norwegian parliamentary election|2025]] ||2025<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Olsen |first1=Anders Stensland |last2=NTB |first2=Nyhetsbyrået |date=2025-09-11 |title=Her er noen av Stortingets nye ansikter |url=https://www.klartale.no/valg/her-er-noen-av-stortingets-nye-ansikter/9951779 |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=www.klartale.no |language=nb-NO}}</ref> |}

==Poland== {{main|Senior Marshal}} Following a general election, the eldest member of each of the lower ([[Sejm]]) and upper ([[Senate (Poland)|Senate]]) houses of the Polish parliament is given the honorary post of Senior Marshal until the new permanent leaders of the houses, the [[Marshal of the Sejm]] and the [[Marshal of the Senate]], are elected in a vote by their respective members. This normally takes place as the first item on the agenda at the first session, over which the Senior Marshal presides. Most recently, the title of Senior Marshal was bestowed on [[Marek Sawicki]], member of the X Sejm, and [[Michał Seweryński]], senator of the XI Senate. Both assumed their roles on 13 November 2023, following the formation of the new parliament as a result of the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|15 October general election]].

==Russia== Traditionally when a new Russian parliament is formed the eldest deputy opens and manages the first session until a [[Chairman of the State Duma|chairman]] is elected. In the history of the post-Soviet Dumas these were: {| class="sortable wikitable" |- !Elected !! Name !! Constituency !!class="unsortable"| !! Party !! Age when elected |- |{{sort|1993|[[1993 Russian legislative election|1993]]}} || {{sortname|Georgy|Lukava}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democratic Party of Russia}} |{{age|1925|8|22|1993|12|12}} |- |{{sort|1995|[[1995 Russian legislative election|1995]]}} || {{sortname|Grigory|Galaziy}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|Our Home – Russia}} |{{age|1922|3|5|1995|12|17}} |- |{{sort|1999|[[1999 Russian legislative election|1999]]}} || {{sortname|Yegor|Ligachyov}} || [[Tomsk constituency|Tomsk]] | {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of the Russian Federation}} |{{age|1920|11|29|1999|12|19}} |- |{{sort|2003|[[2003 Russian legislative election|2003]]}} || {{sortname|Valentin|Varennikov}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|Rodina (political party)}} |{{age|1923|12|15|2003|12|7}} |- |{{sort|2007|[[2007 Russian legislative election|2007]]}} || {{sortname|Zhores|Alferov}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of the Russian Federation}} |{{age|1930|3|15|2007|12|2}} |- |{{sort|2011|[[2011 Russian legislative election|2011]]}} || {{sortname|Vladimir|Dolgikh}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|United Russia}} |{{age|1924|12|5|2011|12|4}} |- |{{sort|2016|[[2016 Russian legislative election|2016]]}} || {{sortname|Zhores|Alferov}} || Federal list | {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of the Russian Federation}} |{{age|1930|3|15|2016|9|18}} |- |{{sort|2021|[[2021 Russian legislative election|2021]]}} || {{sortname|Vladimir|Resin}}{{efn|name=tereshkova|Even though Resin was the oldest member of 8th State Duma, the first session was opened by [[Valentina Tereshkova]], who was 1 year younger than Resin and also a member of United Russia.}}|| Federal list | {{Party name with colour|United Russia}} |{{age|1936|2|21|2021|9|19}} |- |}

==Serbia== In the [[National Assembly (Serbia)|National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia]], the oldest MP serves as the Acting Speaker presiding over the constitutive session, before the Speaker is elected. * 2001: [[Zaharije Trnavčević]] — [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|Democratic Party]] * 2004: Velimir Simonović — [[Democratic Party of Serbia]] * 2007: [[Borka Vučić]] — [[Socialist Party of Serbia]] * 2008: [[Jovan Krkobabić]] — [[Party of United Pensioners of Serbia]] * 2012: [[Zaharije Trnavčević]] — [[Rich Serbia]] * 2014: Milan Korać — [[Party of United Pensioners of Serbia]] * 2016: [[Dragoljub Mićunović]] — [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|Democratic Party]] * 2020: [[Smilja Tišma]] — [[Independent politician|Independent]] * 2022: [[Vladeta Janković]] — [[Independent politician|Independent]] * 2024: [[Stojan Radenović]] — [[Independent politician|Independent]]

==Singapore== Until his death on 23 March 2015, former prime minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]] was the longest-serving member of Parliament ([[Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency|Tanjong Pagar]]) and thus the Father of the House.<ref name="pressrun.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.pressrun.net/weblog/2011/03/singapores-veteran-mps.html |title=Pressrun.net |website=www.pressrun.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084010/http://www.pressrun.net/weblog/2011/03/singapores-veteran-mps.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2023-01-26}}</ref> {{As of|2015|4}}, emeritus senior minister and former prime minister [[Goh Chok Tong]] later became Father of the House, as the longest-serving MP ([[Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency|Marine Parade]]).<ref name="pressrun.net"/> Upon Goh's retirement in 2020, [[Senior Minister of Singapore|Senior Minister]] and former prime minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]], is Father of the House being the longest-serving MP ([[Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency|Ang Mo Kio]]) having served since 1984.

==Sweden== In Sweden, the ''{{Interlanguage link|Riksdagsordningen|sv|Riksdagsordningen}}'' law states that the member of the [[Riksdag]] who has held their elected seat for the longest shall be the ''Ålderspresident'' which translates to ''President by age''. The ''Ålderspresident'' acts as speaker of the Riksdag after each election, before the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] has been elected. The ''Ålderspresident'' also acts as speaker in case of hindrance on behalf of the Speaker and all three Deputy Speakers.

Members of the Riksdag who has held the position of Ålderspresident since the abolition of bicameralism: * [[Tage Erlander]] (first elected 1932) 1971–1973 * [[Torsten Nilsson]] (first elected 1941) 1973–1976 * [[Henry Allard]] (first elected 1945) 1976–1979 * [[Gunnar Sträng]] (first elected 1946) 1979–1985 * [[Ingemund Bengtsson]] (first elected 1951) 1985–1988 * {{Interlanguage link|Stig Alemyr|sv|Stig Alemyr}} (first elected 1957) 1988–1994 * [[Ingvar Carlsson]] (first elected 1965) 1994–1996 * {{Interlanguage link|Börje Nilsson (politician)|lt=Börje Nilsson|sv|Börje Nilsson (politiker)}} (first elected 1965) 1996–1998 * {{Interlanguage link|Jan Bergqvist|sv|Jan Bergqvist}} (first elected 1969) 1998–2002 * [[Anders Björck]] (first elected 1969) 2002–2003 * [[Bo Lundgren]] (first elected 1976) 2003–2004 * [[Lennart Nilsson (politician)|Lennart Nilsson]] (first elected 1976) 2004–2006 * [[Per Westerberg]] (first elected 1979) 2006–2014 * [[Göran Hägglund]] (first elected 1991) 2014–2015 * [[Krister Örnfjäder]] (first elected 1993) 2015–2018 * [[Beatrice Ask]] (first elected 1988) 2018–2019 * [[Tuve Skånberg]] (first elected 1991) 2020–2022 * [[Carina Ohlsson]] (first elected 1998) 2022 * [[Karin Enström]] (first elected 1998) 2022 * [[Tomas Eneroth]] (first elected 1994) 2022–2025 * [[Anders Ygeman]] (first elected 1996) 2025–<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Han blir riksdagens nya ålderspresident - Altinget |url=https://www.altinget.se/rikspolitik/namn/han-blir-riksdagens-nya-aalderspresident |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.altinget.se}}</ref>

==Ukraine== According to article 82 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the oldest deputy opens the first session of each new convocation of the [[Verkhovna Rada]]. The deputy also reads aloud the oath. As the constitution was adopted in 1996, the rule was first applied to the opening of the third convocation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Перше засідання Ради відкриє нардеп з партії Бойка-Рабіновича |url=https://www.chesno.org/post/3483/ |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=Chesno |date=23 July 2019 |language=uk}}</ref> {| class="sortable wikitable" |- !Convocation !! Elected !! Name !! class="unsortable"| !! Party !! Age when elected !! Left Parliament |- | [[3rd Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|III]] || {{sort|1998|[[1998 Ukrainian parliamentary election|1998]]}} || {{sortname|Slava|Stetsko}} | {{Party name with colour|Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists}} |{{age|1920|5|14|1998|3|29}} |rowspan=2|{{sort|2003|2003}} † |- | [[4th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|IV]] || {{sort|2002|[[2002 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2002]]}} || {{sortname|Slava|Stetsko}} | {{Party name with colour|Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists}} |{{age|1920|5|14|2002|3|31}} |- | [[5th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|V]] || {{sort|2006|[[2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2006]]}} || {{sortname|Ivan|Gerasymov}} | {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of Ukraine}} |{{age|1921|8|8|2006|3|26}} |rowspan=2|{{sort|2008|2008}} † |- | [[6th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|VI]] || {{sort|2007|[[2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2007]]}} || {{sortname|Ivan|Gerasymov}} | {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of Ukraine}} |{{age|1921|8|8|2007|9|30}} |- | [[7th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|VII]] || {{sort|2012|[[2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2012]]}} || {{sortname|Yukhym|Zvyahilsky}} | {{Party name with colour|Party of Regions}} |{{age|1933|2|20|2012|10|28}} |rowspan=2|{{sort|2019|2019}} |- | [[8th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|VIII]] || {{sort|2014|[[2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2014]]}} || {{sortname|Yukhym|Zvyahilsky}} | {{Party name with colour|Party of Regions}} |{{age|1933|2|20|2014|10|26}} |- |rowspan=2|[[9th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|IX]] |rowspan=2|{{sort|2019|[[2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2019]]}} |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Yuliy|Ioffe}} |{{Party name with colour|Opposition Platform — For Life}} |rowspan=2|{{age|1940|12|10|2019|7|21}} |rowspan=2| |- |{{Party name with colour|Platform for Life and Peace}} |-

==United States== In the United States, the title "Father" of the House (although used for about a century starting in 1816)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Seniority/Deans-of-the-House |title=Fathers/Deans of the House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207234351/https://history.house.gov/Institution/Seniority/Deans-of-the-House/ |archive-date=2022-12-07 |access-date=2023-01-26}}</ref> does not exist, but in the lower house, the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] the position known as [[Dean of the United States House of Representatives|Dean of the House]] is almost exactly the same position—that is, it is a largely ceremonial position bestowed on the member with the longest continuous service. Much like the Father of the British House of Commons, the Dean's only formal role relates to the installation of the Speaker, though in the American case it is to swear the newly elected speaker in rather than preside over the election. Less similar is the position in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] (the upper house) known as [[President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate|President Pro Tempore]], the holder of which has since 1945 gained the position through seniority, but who also must be a member of the party holding a majority in the Senate.

Since March 2022, with the death of [[Don Young]], the Dean of the House has been [[Hal Rogers]], who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and began serving in 1981.

==See also== * [[Oldest Member (European Parliament)]] * [[Baby of the House]] * [[Dean of the House (Canada)]] * [[Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives]] * [[Father of the Dáil]] * [[List of longest-serving members of the Australian House of Representatives]] * [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate]] * [[Senior Marshal]] (Poland)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN06399 Father of the House: House of Commons Background Paper], House of Commons Library, 2016

[[Category:Westminster system]] [[Category:Senior legislators]]