SPD Prime Minister Woidke advocates for the appointment of three additional judges
In a surprising turn of events, the election of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for one of the vacancies at the Federal Constitutional Court has been met with controversy and resistance. The dispute centers around accusations of plagiarism and controversy over her political and academic stances, particularly concerning abortion rights and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Union, a key coalition partner in the German government, has not nominated Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf as a candidate for one of the vacancies, and the CSU has followed suit. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group's last-minute withdrawal of support prevented the necessary two-thirds majority for her election, causing the vote to be postponed.
Critics, mostly from the conservative CDU/CSU camp, opposed Brosius-Gersdorf due to her perceived progressive views. Accusations included exaggerated claims about her support for abortion legalization up to birth, which she has strongly denied as defamatory and unrealistic. Additionally, a plagiarism allegation surfaced, further fueling opposition.
The SPD, Brosius-Gersdorf’s party, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government have been deeply affected by this rift. Merz, leader of the CDU, has publicly defended Brosius-Gersdorf against what he calls “unacceptable” attacks and expressed confidence that the coalition will find a resolution. The SPD, on the other hand, has planned emergency meetings following the CDU/CSU’s withdrawal of support, emphasizing the seriousness of the dispute.
Dietmar Woidke, Minister-President of Brandenburg and a prominent SPD politician, has appealed to all parties involved to reach an agreement in the election for the Federal Constitutional Court. Woidke believes that the procedure does not reflect well on the coalition in Berlin and suggests involving the opposition parties, excluding the AfD, early on in the process. He also believes that the parties needed for a two-thirds majority, including the Left Party and the Greens, should be involved early on.
The SPD has proposed Ann-Katrin Kaufhold as an alternative candidate for one of the vacancies. However, the SPD and Greens have resisted the idea of putting together a new judicial package proposed by CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann.
This dispute is unprecedented in recent German political history and has heavily overshadowed government affairs in Berlin. The outcome of this controversy will have significant implications for the German political landscape.
- The Court of Justice, in a matter unrelated to the political squabble surrounding Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf's election to the Federal Constitutional Court, has consistently held that the Commission's decision to initiate proceedings is not in itself justified, asserting the need for substantial evidence and proper justification.
- The general news has been dominated by the ongoing dispute over Brosius-Gersdorf's election, with accusations of plagiarism and controversial political stances, such as abortion rights and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, fueling deep divisions within the German government and politics.
