New Constitutional Judges' Election Suspension Announced
The election process for three new German federal constitutional judges has hit a roadblock, with the nomination of law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf at the centre of the controversy.
Brosius-Gersdorf, a professor at the University of Potsdam, was nominated by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for a position on the Federal Constitutional Court. However, her appointment has faced strong opposition from conservative groups and the Catholic community, primarily due to her views on abortion and her involvement in a commission examining ways to regulate abortion outside of the German Criminal Code.
The CDU/CSU bloc, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, withdrew support for Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination just before a scheduled parliamentary vote. This move was partly due to a plagiarism allegation that surfaced, though Brosius-Gersdorf and her universities have not yet commented on the matter. The lack of support from the CDU/CSU meant that Brosius-Gersdorf was unlikely to secure the required two-thirds majority for her appointment, leading to the postponement of the vote.
Matthias Miersch, the SPD parliamentary group leader, has stated that there is "no doubt" about the suitability of Brosius-Gersdorf for a post in Karlsruhe. The Greens, too, have expressed their support for Brosius-Gersdorf, but their calls for a special session during the parliamentary summer recess to hold a new election attempt have been rejected by the Union and SPD.
The Union and SPD consider a special session unnecessary and see no urgency for the election of new constitutional judges. Until the Bundestag resumes its plenary sessions in September, only individual committees will work, while MPs will do their constituency work and have time for vacation.
The Left has not given a binding promise to vote for Günther Spinner, the Union's nominated judge candidate. The Left insists on direct talks with the Union, which they have so far refused. The parties must agree to achieve the two-thirds majority, as they do not want to be dependent on the AfD.
The Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, seems to support the line set by Merz that the dispute should be resolved calmly. CDU leader Friedrich Merz may provide more information about the dispute during the traditional summer press conference of the Federal Chancellor in Berlin on Friday.
The current status of the election for new German federal constitutional judges remains uncertain, with the Greens and SPD holding onto Brosius-Gersdorf, but there are no signs from the CDU and CSU that they are willing to change their minds. Brosius-Gersdorf has faced personal threats and has emphasized her moderate positions, urging a more objective debate around her nomination. The situation remains contentious and is a significant point of contention within Germany's coalition government.
The controversy surrounding the election of three new German federal constitutional judges, specifically the nomination of law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, has drawn attention to the policy-and-legislation sphere, igniting political debates and general news discussions within the EC countries and the European Union. This dispute, primarily focused on Brosius-Gersdorf's views on abortion and plagiarism allegations, is causing friction among the coalition government and could potentially influence the European Community's internal dynamics.
