Father of the House#European Union

{{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 legislatures, most notably the 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, the incumbent Father of the UK House of Commons]]

The Father of the House is a title that is bestowed on the senior male member of the House of Commons who has the longest continuous service.{{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=UK Parliament |series=Briefing Paper Number 06399 |publisher=House of Commons Library}}{{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=UK Parliament |series=Factsheet M3 Members Series}} 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.{{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}} 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. The first recorded usage of the term dates to 1788, in an obituary of Thomas Noel. In 2017, Harriet Harman was described as "Mother of the House" by Prime Minister Theresa May, in recognition of her status as the longest-continuously serving woman MP.{{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}} During speeches at the re-opening of Parliament after the 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 Rishi Sunak.{{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}}

The only formal duty of the Father of the House is to preside over the election of the 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.{{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=UK Parliament}}

Among the twentieth-century Fathers, there were several very prominent figures; four former Prime Ministers became Father of the House,{{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=UK Parliament |series=Factsheet M3 Members Series FS No.M3 Ed 3.6 |page=4 |issn=0144-4689}} 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.{{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}}

= 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 first election to the legislature in 1999, while the current father is John Griffiths, who was also elected in 1999.{{Cite news |date=30 June 2000 |title=Richards may face ethics panel |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/813138.stm |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=23 June 2000 |title=A colourful and controversial character |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/800500.stm |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{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}} In the Scottish Parliament, both Father of the House and Mother of the House are used for the longest serving Members of the Scottish Parliament.{{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}}{{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}} The current mother is Christine Grahame while the current father is John Swinney, who were both first elected at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election.{{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}}{{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}} The Northern Ireland Assembly also grants the title of Father of the House to its longest serving male member.{{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}}{{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}} The current father is Alan Chambers.{{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}}

Australia

{{Main|List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of Australia}}

File:Bob Katter.jpg, 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.{{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}} 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".{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice6/Practice6HTML?file=Chapter5§ion=10|chapter=Titles accorded to members|title=House of Representatives Practice|publisher=Parliament of Australia|year=2012|edition=6th}} 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".{{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}}

Canada

{{Main|Dean of the House (Canada)}}

The longest-serving member of the 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 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 in 1984 and serving as the Dean of the House since 2008.

Czech Republic

In the Chamber of Deputies, if previous 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.psp.cz/docs/laws/1995/90.html | title=Zákon o jednacím řádu Poslanecké sněmovny }}

In the Senate, if previous 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.senat.cz/informace/zakon106/zakony/zak107.php |title=Rules of Procedure of the Senate|date=January 2012 }}

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.{{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}}

Finland

class=wikitable

! Member

! Born

! Entered parliament

! Became oldest member

Iisakki Hoikka184019071907–1908
John Hedberg184019081908–1909
Leo Mechelin183919101910–1913
John Hedberg184019081914
Axel Lille184819161917
Rabbe Wrede185119101917–1918
Wilhelmi Malmivaara185419071919
Artur Wuorimaa185419071920–1921
Waldemar Bergroth185219171922–1926
Juho Torppa185919071927–1929
Anders Forsberg186419241929–1930
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud186119071930–1931
K. J. Ståhlberg186519081932
Matti Paasivuori186619071933–1935
Miina Sillanpää186619071936–1947
Akseli Brander187619331948–1950
Väinö Tanner188119071951–1953
Matti Lahtela188119301954–1957
Väinö Tanner188119071958–1961
Raino Hallberg189019511962–1965
Kustaa Tiitu189619451966–1969
Rafael Paasio190319481970–1975
Evald Häggblom190519661975, 1976
V. J. Sukselainen190619481976–1978
Mikko Kaarna191119601979–1982
Tuure Junnila191019511983–1986
Johannes Virolainen191419451987–1989
Tuure Junnila19101951 (again 1990)1990
Maunu Kohijoki192319871991–1994
Martti Tiuri192519831995–2002
Kalevi Lamminen193519872003–2006
Claes Andersson193719872007–2008
Jacob SödermanSöderman 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}}193819722008Eduskunta: [http://www.eduskunta.fi/valtiopaivaasiakirjat/ptk+1/2008 Täysistunnon pöytäkirja PTK 1/2008 vp] {{in lang|fi}}Eduskunta: [http://www.eduskunta.fi/valtiopaivaasiakirjat/ptk+1/2009 Täysistunnon pöytäkirja PTK 1/2009 vp] {{in lang|fi}}-2010
Kauko Tuupainen194020112011–2013
Jörn Donner19331987 (again 2013)2014
Pertti Salolainen194019702015–2018
Erkki Tuomioja194619702019–2022
Kimmo Kiljunen195119952023–

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 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 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 (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;{{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}} 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

11949–1953Paul Löbe
(1875–1967)
1949–1953SPDlongtime Reichstagspräsident during the Weimar Republic
21953–1957Marie Elisabeth Lüders
(1878–1966)
1953–1957FDProwspan="3" | stood in for Konrad Adenauer, the oldest member, who refused the position due to his position as Chancellor
31957–1961Marie Elisabeth Lüders1957–1961FDP
rowspan="2" | 4rowspan="2" | 1961–1965Robert Pferdmenges
(1880–1962)
1961–1962CDU
Konrad Adenauer
(1876–1967)
1963–1965CDUassumed the position after his resignation as Chancellor{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
rowspan="2" | 5rowspan="2" | 1965–1969Konrad Adenauer1965–1967CDUdied in 1967
William Borm
(1895–1987)
1967–1969FDP
61969–1972William Borm1969–1972FDP
71972–1976Ludwig Erhard
(1897–1977)
1972–1976CDU
rowspan="2" | 8rowspan="2" | 1976–1980Ludwig Erhard1976–1977CDUdied in 1977
Johann Baptist Gradl
(1904–1988)
1977–1980CDU
91980–1983Herbert Wehner
(1906–1990)
1980–1983SPD
101983–1987Willy Brandt
(1913–1992)
1983–1987SPDstood in for Egon Franke, who refused the position because of criminal investigations conducted against him at the beginning of the legislative period
111987–1990Willy Brandt1987–1990SPD
rowspan="2" | 12rowspan="2" | 1990–1994Willy Brandt1990–1992SPDdied in 1992
Alfred Dregger
(1920–2002)
1992–1994CDU
rowspan="2" | 13rowspan="2" | 1994–1998Stefan Heym
(1913–2001)
1994–1995PDSresigned his seat in 1995
Alfred Dregger (1920–2002)1995–1998CDU
rowspan="2" | 14rowspan="2" | 1998–2002Fred Gebhardt
(1928–2000)
1998–2000PDSdied in 2000
Hans-Eberhard Urbaniak
(born 1929)
2000–2002SPD
152002–2005rowspan="2" | Otto Schily
(born 1932)
2002–2005SPD
162005–20092005–2009SPD
172009–2013rowspan="2" | Heinz Riesenhuber
(born 1935)
2009–2013CDU
182013–20172013–2017CDU
192017–2021Hermann Otto Solms
(born 1940, member of parliament for 33 years, 1980–2013 and 2017–2021)
2017–2021FDPThe 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" | 20rowspan="2" | 2021–2025Wolfgang Schäuble
(1942–2023, member of parliament 1972–2023)
2021–2023CDU
Peter Ramsauer
(born 1954, member of parliament since 1990)
2023–2025CSU
20since 2025Gregor 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 and the 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 (previously 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.

It is also worth mentioning that 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

| MSZDP

| rowspan=2 | 1924

| rowspan=2 | 1945

| rowspan=2 | 1948 †

style="background-color:Red" |

| MDP

style="background-color:#50C878" |

| Dezső Pattantyús-Ábrahám

| FMDP

| 1947

| 1948

| 1949

style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |

| Ferenc Harrer

| Ind.

| 1949

| 1949

| 1969 †

style="background-color:Red" |

| Janka Stark

| MSZMP

| 1958

| 1969

| 1975

style="background-color:Red" |

| László Pesta

| MSZMP

| 1949

| 1975

| 1990

style="background-color:{{party color|Hungarian Democratic Forum}}" |

| Kálmán Kéri

| MDF

| 1990

| 1990

| 1994 †

style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party}}" |

| {{Interlanguage link|Vince Vörös|hu|Vörös Vince}}

| 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)}}

| 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

| 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

|

Israel

In the beginning of some Knessets, the oldest member assumes temporary duties of the speaker before the election of a permanent speaker, In the past it was the oldest member of Knesset, now it is the longest-serving member. The oldest member of the 25th Knesset is Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ireland

{{Main|Father of the Dáil}}

In Ireland, the term Father of the Dáil is an unofficial title applied to the 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 general election. On a number of occasions, two or more people have shared the position of Father of the Dáil.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, the longest-serving member of the Chamber of Deputies, per the Chamber's regulations, serves as 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 youngest members.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chd.lu/fr/reglement-de-la-chambre |title=Règlement de la Chambre |website=chd.lu |language=fr}}

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, 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}}.{{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}}

Poland

{{main|Senior Marshal}}

Following a general election, the eldest member of each of the lower (Sejm) and upper (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 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 is elected. In the history of the post-Soviet Dumas these were:

class="sortable wikitable"
ElectedNameConstituencyclass="unsortable"| PartyAge when elected
{{sort|1993|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}}{{sortname|Grigory|Galaziy}}Federal list

| {{Party name with colour|Our Home – Russia}}

|{{age|1922|3|5|1995|12|17}}

{{sort|1999|1999}}{{sortname|Yegor|Ligachyov}}Tomsk

| {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of the Russian Federation}}

|{{age|1920|11|29|1999|12|19}}

{{sort|2003|2003}}{{sortname|Valentin|Varennikov}}Federal list

| {{Party name with colour|Rodina (political party)}}

|{{age|1923|12|15|2003|12|7}}

{{sort|2007|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}}{{sortname|Vladimir|Dolgikh}}Federal list

| {{Party name with colour|United Russia}}

|{{age|1924|12|5|2011|12|4}}

{{sort|2016|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}}{{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 of the Republic of Serbia, the oldest MP serves as the Acting Speaker presiding over the constitutive session, before the Speaker is elected.

Singapore

Until his death on 23 March 2015, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was the longest-serving Member of Parliament (Tanjong Pagar) and thus the Father of the House.{{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}} {{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). Upon Goh's retirement in 2020, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is Father of the House 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 (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–{{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}}

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.{{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}}

class="sortable wikitable"
ConvocationElectedNameclass="unsortable"|PartyAge when electedLeft Parliament
III{{sort|1998|1998}}{{sortname|Slava|Stetsko}}

| {{Party name with colour|Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists}}

|{{age|1920|5|14|1998|3|29}}

|rowspan=2|{{sort|2003|2003}} †

IV{{sort|2002|2002}}{{sortname|Slava|Stetsko}}

| {{Party name with colour|Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists}}

|{{age|1920|5|14|2002|3|31}}

V{{sort|2006|2006}}{{sortname|Ivan|Gerasymov}}

| {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of Ukraine}}

|{{age|1921|8|8|2006|3|26}}

|rowspan=2|{{sort|2008|2008}} †

VI{{sort|2007|2007}}{{sortname|Ivan|Gerasymov}}

| {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of Ukraine}}

|{{age|1921|8|8|2007|9|30}}

VII{{sort|2012|2012}}{{sortname|Yukhym|Zvyahilsky}}

| {{Party name with colour|Party of Regions}}

|{{age|1933|2|20|2012|10|28}}

|rowspan=2|{{sort|2019|2019}}

VIII{{sort|2014|2014}}{{sortname|Yukhym|Zvyahilsky}}

| {{Party name with colour|Party of Regions}}

|{{age|1933|2|20|2014|10|26}}

rowspan=2|IX

|rowspan=2|{{sort|2019|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){{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}} does not exist, but in the lower house, the House of Representatives the position known as 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. Less similar is the position in the Senate (the upper house) known as 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

References

{{Reflist}}