Regierenden

Regierenden is a German term that refers to those who govern at a given level of government. It is formed from the verb regieren (to govern) and functions as a nominalized form of the present participle. In everyday language, Regierenden is capitalized as a noun and commonly appears in the plural die Regierenden.

In use, Regierenden denotes the current incumbents or ruling actors, typically including the cabinet and, in some contexts, the governing coalition or parties. The term can apply to federal, state (Länder), or local authorities, depending on the scope of governance being discussed. It is often contrasted with the Opposition or with non-governing institutions.

The nuance of Regierenden lies in its focus on the actors who hold power rather than on the institutions themselves. This makes it a convenient term for political reporting and analysis when describing policy decisions, elections, or transitions of power. While it identifies who governs, it does not specify the exact formal title of the leaders, which can be given by terms such as Regierung, Ministerpräsident, or Bundeskanzler.

See also: Regierung; Oppositions; Ministerpräsident; Bundeskanzler.