European lawmakers endorse the Commission's plan to safeguard employees from hazards stemming from ionising radiation exposure.
In a surprising turn of events, Prof. Dr. Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) nominee for the Federal Constitutional Court, is set to clarify her positions and address criticisms in a public statement on Tuesday. The announcement comes after the Bundestag postponed the election of all three judges for the Federal Constitutional Court, which was originally scheduled for Friday, due to reservations within the Union and plagiarism allegations against Brosius-Gersdorf.
The Union, comprising the CDU and CSU, has called for a new candidate for the Federal Constitutional Court, specifically naming CSU leader Markus Söder. The SPD, however, has not withdrawn its candidate, Brosius-Gersdorf, despite the demands from the CDU/CSU. The election of Brosius-Gersdorf to the Federal Constitutional Court is currently uncertain due to the reservations within the Union and the postponement of the election.
Criticisms against Brosius-Gersdorf revolve around several key issues. Her controversial legal views, such as her assertion that the guarantee of human dignity under Article 1 of the German Basic Law applies only beginning at birth, not before, have raised ethical concerns, particularly in relation to abortion and embryo rights.
Furthermore, her progressive stances on abortion and her endorsement of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations have been criticised by the conservative CDU/CSU alliance as liberal positions. These topics are contentious in German politics, and her views have not gone unnoticed.
Shortly before the scheduled Bundestag vote, plagiarism allegations surfaced against Brosius-Gersdorf, prompting the CDU/CSU to demand the postponement of her confirmation vote. These allegations were cited as the primary reason for the delay, as they cast doubt on her academic integrity.
The Bundestag's postponement of the vote on the appointment of new judges to the Federal Constitutional Court was met with criticism from the SPD and Greens, who argue that it could harm the court’s credibility. However, the conservatives threatened to abstain if the vote proceeded, potentially depriving Brosius-Gersdorf of the required two-thirds majority.
Brosius-Gersdorf plans to address these criticisms and clear up any misunderstandings in her written statement on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how she will respond to the allegations and address the concerns raised by her opponents. The postponement of the election and the ongoing controversy surrounding her nomination have cast a shadow over the Federal Constitutional Court, and the public awaits her statement with great interest.
[1] https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-07/frauke-brosius-gersdorf-plagiat-bundestag [2] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/frauke-brosius-gersdorf-und-der-plagiat-skandal-a-1545508.html [3] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/plagiat-frauke-brosius-gersdorf-101.html [4] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article213349305/Frauke-Brosius-Gersdorf-Plagiat-Skandal-geht-nicht-unter.html
- The upcoming statement from Prof. Dr. Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf is expected to address the various policies she advocates, including community policy and employment policy, which have been under scrutiny due to their provocative nature, particularly in light of her controversial legal views and liberal stance on issues such as abortion and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
- The ongoing political drama surrounding Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination to the Federal Constitutional Court has sparked a significant discussion on policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, with the plagiarism allegations further fueling the debate about the credibility of her academic background and the potential impact on the court's integrity.
