German coalition crisis as top judge vote postponed over plagiarism claims
Other parties, including his Social Democrat coalition partners, charged the Christian Democrats with bringing Germany's highest court into disrepute and using spurious plagiarism allegations as a pretext for shelving a vote the coalition would not have won.
The conservatives had initially sought to postpone a vote only on appointing Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, a law professor and the Social Democrats' nominee, who was opposed by many conservatives because of her support for abortion rights.
'I never imagined we'd see debates in our country reminiscent of those on appointing justices to the United States Supreme Court,' the SPD's Dirk Wiese told parliament.
'The kind of witch hunt we've seen against a distinguished law professor this week should make us fear for the state of democracy in our country,' he added.
The failure to muster a majority is an embarrassment for Merz and for his ally Jens Spahn, the conservatives' parliamentary leader, whose job it is to ensure his legislators toe the coalition line - something he had been confident of achieving as recently as Monday.
The conservatives blamed their volte-face on allegations published on Thursday evening by Stefan Weber, a self-proclaimed 'plagiarism hunter' who has claimed a string of politicians' scalps despite widespread doubts over his methods.
Brosius-Gersdorf did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for a comment on Weber's allegations, which appeared to accuse her of plagiarising footnotes in her thesis from one published after her own.
'This man brings plagiarism charges against half the republic,' said the Green's Britta Hasselmann, calling the conservatives' decision a disaster that would harm the court's reputation.
Weber later backtracked, telling the Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he had merely flagged 'possible unethical authorship' and had not accused Brosius-Gersdorf of plagiarism.
The Constitutional Court is one of Germany's most respected and powerful institutions. Its decision to overturn a budget helped trigger the collapse of the last government.
While judges often have open party affiliations, public disagreements over topical cultural issues are rare. Its members speak with pride about its political neutrality, frequently comparing it favourably with the U.S. Supreme Court. - Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
South Korea's ex-leader Yoon refuses questioning, lies on cell floor
SEOUL: South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is in detention while on trial and facing various criminal probes, lay on the floor of his cell on Friday and refused to leave it for questioning, a spokesperson for a special prosecutor said. Yoon was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court over his botched attempt last year to declare martial law and is now being investigated by a special prosecution team formed under new President Lee Jae Myung. Prosecutors investigating influence-peddling allegations connected to Yoon and his wife had tried to get him to comply with an arrest warrant and attend questioning voluntarily, a spokesperson for the special prosecution said. 'But the suspect stubbornly refused to do so, while lying on the ground, not dressed in a prison uniform,' Oh Jung-hee told a news briefing. She said investigators would try again to bring him in, even if they had to use force. Yoon was dressed only in his undershirt and underwear when prosecutors came to his cell, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the special prosecution. Yu Jeong-hwa, one of Yoon's lawyers, told Reuters that bringing up what he was wearing in a small space where the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) was a public insult to his dignity and showed how the state was violating inmates' human rights. The former president was put back in a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center in July, as prosecutors investigating his short-lived declaration of martial law in December sought additional charges against him. Yoon is already on trial for insurrection, a charge which is punishable by death or life imprisonment. He also faces a string of other investigations led by special prosecutors including one into scandals surrounding his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, where the couple allegedly exerted inappropriate influence over elections. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have accused prosecutors of conducting a politically-motivated witch hunt. The former president has repeatedly rejected requests by prosecutors to appear for questioning, citing health issues. His lawyers said on Thursday that he was unwell due to preexisting conditions, including a condition that meant there was a risk of him losing his eyesight. In a reference to Yoon's position as a former top prosecutor, Oh, the spokesperson for the special prosecution, said the case was being closely scrutinised by the public. 'The suspect has consistently highlighted the importance of laws, principles, fairness and common sense and through this case people are watching if the law applies equally to everyone,' Oh said. Separately, investigators requested that Yoon's wife Kim, who has also denied any wrongdoing, attend questioning on August 6. Kim's lawyers have said she would cooperate with the investigation. - Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
South Korea's ex-leader Yoon lay on floor of cell and refused to be questioned, prosecutors say
FILE PHOTO: Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is in detention while on trial and facing various criminal probes, lay on the floor of his cell on Friday and refused to leave it for questioning, a spokesperson for a special prosecutor said. Yoon was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court over his botched attempt last year to declare martial law and is now being investigated by a special prosecution team formed under new President Lee Jae Myung. Prosecutors investigating influence-peddling allegations connected to Yoon and his wife had tried to get him to comply with an arrest warrant and attend questioning voluntarily, a spokesperson for the special prosecution said. "But the suspect stubbornly refused to do so, while lying on the ground, not dressed in a prison uniform," Oh Jung-hee told a news briefing. She said investigators would try again to bring him in, even if they had to use force. Yoon was dressed only in his undershirt and underwear when prosecutors came to his cell, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the special prosecution. Yu Jeong-hwa, one of Yoon's lawyers, told Reuters that bringing up what he was wearing in a small space where the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) was a public insult to his dignity and showed how the state was violating inmates' human rights. The former president was put back in a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center in July, as prosecutors investigating his short-lived declaration of martial law in December sought additional charges against him. Yoon is already on trial for insurrection, a charge which is punishable by death or life imprisonment. He also faces a string of other investigations led by special prosecutors including one into scandals surrounding his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, where the couple allegedly exerted inappropriate influence over elections. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have accused prosecutors of conducting a politically-motivated witch hunt. The former president has repeatedly rejected requests by prosecutors to appear for questioning, citing health issues. His lawyers said on Thursday that he was unwell due to preexisting conditions, including a condition that meant there was a risk of him losing his eyesight. In a reference to Yoon's position as a former top prosecutor, Oh, the spokesperson for the special prosecution, said the case was being closely scrutinised by the public. "The suspect has consistently highlighted the importance of laws, principles, fairness and common sense and through this case people are watching if the law applies equally to everyone," Oh said. Separately, investigators requested that Yoon's wife Kim, who has also denied any wrongdoing, attend questioning on August 6. Kim's lawyers have said she would cooperate with the investigation. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Kate Mayberry)
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Thai court set to rule if Thaksin dodged jail with hospital stay
BANGKOK: A top Thai court is set to rule next month whether former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (pic) effectively served a one-year prison term that he spent in a hospital, with an unfavourable verdict potentially sending the ruling party's de facto leader back to jail. The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions will deliver its verdict at 10am on Sept 9, following the conclusion of a weeks-long trial that ended on Wednesday (July 30), according to Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontree. The case centres around Thaksin's controversial stay in Bangkok's police hospital after his 2023 return to Thailand, following 15 years in exile. The two-time former prime minister didn't spend a single day of his royally-commuted sentence for corruption in prison, but was instead lodged in the hospital for various illnesses before being released on parole. Winyat declined to say whether the court could send Thaksin back to jail if it rules that he has not properly served his time. Thaksin is required to be present for the ruling along with the chief of the Bangkok remand prison, according to the court. Thaksin's return was seen as part of a deal with his former foes in the conservative establishment to help them stay in power following the general election in 2023. He had previously been convicted in three corruption cases dating back to his tenure as prime minister from 2001 until his ouster in a 2006 coup. He fled the country in 2008 and was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison. The court's scrutiny of Thaksin's hospital stay comes amid a wave of legal challenges targeting the Shinawatra family. His daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended earlier this month by the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing whether she violated ethical standards in her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia. On Wednesday, the court set Aug 4 as the final deadline for Paetongtarn to submit her response to the allegations before it starts deliberating on the case and issues a ruling later. Thaksin, now 76, also faces a verdict next month in a royal defamation case that could result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Thailand has a long history of political instability. Over the past two decades several prime ministers linked to Thaksin have been removed from office through court rulings or military coups. Paetongtarn's immediate predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was dismissed by the Constitutional Court last year over allegations of ethical misconduct. - Bloomberg
