The first intimate portrait of the people who shape our politics

In their electoral districts, they are the kings, but in Berlin, they are often little-known backbenchers. Nevertheless, the 709 members of the Bundestag form the backbone of our democracy. Who are the 221 women and 488 men? How do they work? How do they form their opinions? How do they manage the balancing act between their constituencies, where most of their families live, and Berlin, a place of loneliness and temptations? How do they experience the increasing aggression? What health challenges do they face? How do they cope with everyday pressure? How do female politicians deal with the sexualized male dominance? The authors have been following political events for decades. The trust they have built with the members of parliament forms the basis for the conversations in this book, the first major report from within the corridors of power.