Latest news with #FraukeBrosius-Gersdorf
DW
14-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany's Constitutional Court becomes political football – DW – 07/14/2025
The Bundestag was supposed to elect three new judges to Germany's highest court. But the vote was canceled due to a dispute over one of the candidates. It is unclear what will happen next. The German parliament failed to complete one of its more important constitutional tasks on Friday: The planned vote on three vacant positions of the panel of judges in the Constitutional Court was removed from the agenda at short notice. The reason: It became apparent that at least one of the candidates, jurist and professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, might not receive enough votes. Since the governing parties, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), do not command a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, they are dependent on support from the opposition for votes affecting the court. This was not supposed to have been a problem, as the opposition Greens and the Left Party had signaled that they would vote for the SPD-nominated Brosius-Gersdorf. But then it became clear that some CDU members would not — especially because of her liberal stance on abortion. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the second biggest faction in the parliament, had already made clear they were vehemently opposed to her nomination — unsurprising, as she had also suggested she would be in favor of banning the party if the necessary legal requirements were fulfilled. A few hours before the planned vote, the CDU demanded that the SPD withdraw Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination, citing new allegations that she might have plagiarized her PhD dissertation in 1997, which left-wing politicians see as spurious. As a result, the Bundestag session was interrupted and, after crisis talks, the Bundestag voted to postpone all three scheduled elections. The AfD voted against the postponement, with its parliamentary secretary, Bernd Baumann, calling for an immediate vote: "This judge is unacceptable, and the proposal has severely damaged the reputation of the Constitutional Court," he said. Heidi Reichinnek, head of the Left Party parliamentary group, blamed the CDU for the parliamentary impasse: "You are playing party political power games here and once again causing absolute chaos." The leader of the Green Party, Britta Hasselmann, shared this view: "Today is a bad day for parliament, for democracy, and for the Federal Constitutional Court." During the debate, SPD member Dirk Wiese spoke of a "smear campaign" against a highly respected constitutional lawyer. This prompted Gottfried Curio of the AfD to interject by dismissing Brosius-Gersdorf as a "left-wing extremist" — earning himself a reprimand from the parliamentary presidium for his trouble. Steffen Bilger of the CDU said that the long-standing practice of nominating and electing judges to the Federal Constitutional Court had proven its worth. "That is why we are a stable democracy," he said. However, he warned, the election should not be the subject of a heated political debate. At the same time, he reiterated the CDU's reservations about Brosius-Gersdorf: Candidates for the Constitutional Court must be above any professional doubt. "And in our view, that is no longer entirely the case," Bilger said. The Federal Constitutional Court is one of Germany's five organs of state. The other four are the lower house of parliament (Bundestag), the upper house of parliament (Bundesrat), which represents the state governments, the federal president, and the federal government. Together, they ensure the separation of powers, one of the core principles of a democratic society. The Constitutional Court's role in this system is to safeguard Germany's constitution, known as the Basic Law. Half of the 16 judges are elected by the Bundestag, while the Bundesrat elects the other half. A two-thirds majority is required in each case. If this is achieved, the federal president officially appoints the successful candidates as new members of the court. The state institutions are closely entwined in this election, which is why the parties represented in parliament, who nominate candidates for the court, are particularly dependent on coordination. It is still unclear when the postponed election of three judges will be held. The parliamentary summer recess is scheduled to begin this week and last until September. However, the Greens are already calling for a special session of the Bundestag next week, out of respect for the candidates and for the Federal Constitutional Court. "We cannot accept a stalemate over the summer in which the country is left in the dark about whether we still have a stable government," the two Green parliamentary leaders, Britta Hasselmann and Katharina Dröge, said in a statement. "The canceled election to the Federal Constitutional Court has plunged the coalition into a serious crisis." This fear is apparently shared by Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil of the SPD. "When there are controversial votes, there must also be leadership and responsibility, and that must be demonstrated," he demanded in the Bundestag, though without overtly pointing any accusatory fingers at the conservative party with which he governs. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Local Germany
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Inside Germany: A failed election, summer snow and 'Rave the Planet'
Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might've missed. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. On Friday, the last Bundestag session before parliament's summer break ended in embarrassment for Germany's black-red government leaders when a planned vote on three would-be constitutional court judges was cancelled at the last minute due to political disagreements. Elections to Germany's highest court ( Das Bundesverfassungsgericht ) aren't normally surrounded by so much controversy. But a recent rule change requires candidates to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, which is a larger majority than the black-red government currently holds. This meant that even if the conservative Christian Union (CDU/CSU) and centre-left Social Democrat (SPD) parties voted in complete agreement, they would still need votes from members of the opposition – including at least a few from either the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) or Left parties. In the end, however, it wasn't the opposition putting a wrench in the gears, but inner-squabbles between the CDU and SPD. The area of contention was around the election of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, who was nominated by the SPD but seen as problematic by a number of conservatives. Merz' CDU said they paused the vote due to (unsubstantiated) allegations of plagiarism against her, but recent reports suggest that conservative politicians were more uncomfortable with her support for abortion rights. Although it's generally accessible up until the 12th week of pregnancy in Germany, abortion is still not fully legalised , and remains a contentious issue in politics. READ ALSO: Six things to know about abortion in Germany While the CDU succeeded in blocking Brosius-Gersdorf, it might also have damaged itself by making the black-red government look weak and ineffective. The previous traffic light government was marked by in-fighting and its own failure to find agreement on key issues eventually led to its collapse. Snow in July? A maypole stands on the Zugspitze earlier this year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Over ten centimetres of fresh snow fell around Zugspitze this week, bringing a bit of winter to midsummer for people in the German Alps. Advertisement The TikTok account (which promotes the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn , or the cable car which services Germany's highest peak) posted a video of employees clearing snow from walkways in the middle of blizzard conditions. According to a report by local outlet Rosenheim 24, cool rain lower down brought 'much-needed refreshment to the Bavarian lowlands'. While snow in July would be outrageous in most places in Germany, in the highest parts of the Alps the weather can get cold enough that summer snow storms are not entirely uncommon. It is interesting to note, however, that the brief chill came just a week after a record breaking heatwave across Europe – and shortly before another is expected to set in. Experts say that climate change doesn't only make temperatures warmer on average, but also makes weather extremes more common and pronounced. With that in mind, it's possible that heatwaves and cold-snaps in summer will both become more common and more dramatic in Germany in the future. Advertisement Berlin gets ready for Rave the Planet The techno spectacle "Rave the Planet" is set to take over Straße des 17. Juni in Berlin on Saturday with 300,000 people expected to attend. According to organizers the event will feature around 290 artists, 35 floats, and 56 speeches. A colourful street party fills Berlin. The annual CSD Pride parade will follow two weeks after 'Rave the Planet' this year. Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP Rave the Planet is the unofficial successor to the former Love Parade, and is effectively an annual celebration of Berlin's world-famous (and now UNESCO recognised ) techno culture. Two weeks later, the same street will again be filled with hundreds of thousands of people and loud techno music for the Christopher Street Day LGBTQ+ pride celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th this year.
DW
11-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany's Bundestag postpones vote on judicial appointments – DW – 07/11/2025
The conservative CDU/CSU bloc has pushed for postponing the vote on one of the judges, citing plagiarism suspicions. The union's junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, were outraged by the decision. On Friday, Germany's Bundestag postponed a vote on appointing three new Federal Constitutional Court judges following a request by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to postpone the vote for just one candidate. The conservative bloc, made up of the CDU and the allied Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), requested postponing the vote on the appointment of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf following plagiarism allegations. Brosius-Gersdorf's candidacy was put forth by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior partner in the ruling coalition. The conservatives had already expressed skepticism over her liberal stance on abortions and her support for mandatory vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Union's move to postpone the vote triggered outrage from the Greens and the SPD, who said it undermined the court's legitimacy. As a result, the Green party asked for the vote on all three judges to be postponed. The conservative ruling bloc, which has proposed Federal Labour Court judge Günter Spinner, moved to delay the vote on the SPD candidate, citing alleged plagiarism. Conservatives consider Brosius-Gersdorf controversial for her liberal stance on abortion. Green party heads Britta Hasselmann and Katharina Dröge said it is unacceptable and disrespectful that the vote for Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf alone will be postponed. "That a nominee can be openly defamed and dragged through the mud like this is shameful," Hasselmann said. "It's about the integrity of our highest court." A two-thirds majority is needed for judges to be elected to the high court. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has said it would support Spinner, but not the SPD candidates. The conservative may be reliant on AfD votes to get its candidate through as it has so far rejected talks with the Left Party. However, votes are secret so it will not necessarily be clear if the AfD votes are what gets Spinner across the line. Based in the southern German city of Karlsruhe, the Federal Constitutional Court ensures compliance with the country's constitution, known as Basic Law. For the latest developments and analysis from Germany, follow our live blog.
DW
11-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany's Bundestag postpones vote on judges' appointment – DW – 07/11/2025
The CDU/CSU union pushed for postponing the vote on one of the judges, citing plagiarism suspicions. The union's junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, were outraged by the decision. Germany's Bundestag postponed on Friday a vote on appointing three new Federal Constitutional Court judges, following a controversial request by Chancellor Friedrich Merz' Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) to postpone the poll for just one candidate. The conservative bloc, made of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), requested to postpone the vote on the appointment of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf due to plagiarism suspicions. Brosius-Gersdorf's candidacy was put forth by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior partner in the ruling coalition. The conservatives had already expressed skepticism over her liberal stance on abortions and her support for mandatory vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Union's move to postpone the vote triggered outrage from the Greens and the SPD, who said it undermined the court's legitimacy. As a result, the Green party asked for the vote on all three judges to be postponed. The conservative ruling bloc, which has proposed Federal Labour Court judge Günter Spinner, moved to delay the vote on the SPD candidate, citing alleged plagiarism. Conservatives consider Brosius-Gersdorf controversial for her liberal stance on abortion. Green party heads Britta Hasselmann and Katharina Dröge said it is unacceptable and disrespectful that the vote for Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf alone will be postponed. "That a nominee can be openly defamed and dragged through the mud like this is shameful," Hasselmann said. "It's about the integrity of our highest court." A two-thirds majority is needed for judges to be elected to the high court. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has said it would support Spinner, but not the SPD candidates. The conservative may be reliant on AfD votes to get its candidate through as it has so far rejected talks with the Left Party. However, votes are secret so it will not necessarily be clear if the AfD votes are what gets Spinner across the line. Based in the southern German city of Karlsruhe, the Federal Constitutional Court ensures compliance with the country's constitution, known as Basic Law.
DW
11-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany updates: Bundestag remembers Srebrenica massacre – DW – 07/11/2025
The German parliament has held a special session for the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. The far-right AfD caused uproar in the Bundestag with their comments on the killings. Follow DW for more. Germany's Bundestag remembered the 8,000 people who were murdered in the Srebrenica massacre that started on July 11, 1995. The sombre session was disrupted by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with two of its members causing uproar with comments to the Bundestag. One questioned the definition of the massacre as a genocidal act. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul gave an impromptu speech to clarify that the German government recognizes the massacre as a German parliament held a special session in memory of the Srebrenica massacre that took place thirty years ago on Friday. Some 8,000 Muslims were murdered by Bosnian Serbs in an act, recognized by several international courts as a genocide, that started on July 11, 1995. Julia Klöckner, president of the Bundestag, said that "Srebrenica was the worst war crime on European soil since World War II." She said that the massacre was the result of UN peacekeeping forces doing nothing to protect those seeking refuge. "With brutal violence, the attackers separated families and deported women, children and the elderly," she stated. "They kept men and boys behind in order to systematically murder them in the days that followed." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A German backpacker who went missing in western Australia almost two weeks ago has been found alive, Australian media reported on Friday. Australian police must first confirm the 26-year-old Carolina Wilga's identity, Australia's reported. A passerby ran into Wilga on a path in the bush, Australian media reported. Her reappearance follows a large-scale search that dragged on for days. Read more on when Wilga went missing and how she was found here. The Bundestag vote for appointing three new Federal Constitutional Court judges has been postponed. This comes after the conservative bloc, made from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), requested to postpone the vote on the appointment of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf due to plagiarism suspicions. The Union's move to postpone the vote on one candidate triggered outrage from the Greens and SPD who said it undermined the court's legitimacy. As a result, the Green party asked for the vote on all three judges to be postponed. The Green party has called for the vote on the appointment of three new Federal Constitutional Court judges to be postponed after the conservative ruling bloc moved to delay the vote on one candidate put forward by the Social Democrats (SPD). Green party heads Britta Hasselmann and Katharina Dröge said it is unacceptable and disrespectful that the vote for Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf alone will be postponed. The conservative bloc called for the postponement of the vote on Brosius-Gersdorf, who many conservatives considered controversial for her liberal stance on abortion, with plagiarism suspicions against her. "That a nominees can be openly defamed and dragged through the mud like this is shameful," Hasselmann said. "It's about the integrity of our highest court." German winemakers predict major negative consequences should the US decide to apply tariffs, led by President Donald Trump. "If the threatened US punitive tariffs come into full effect after the end of the moratorium, it would cause disruptions in international wine markets," the German Wine Institute (DWI) said. According to DWI spokesperson Ernst Büscher, the 25% tariffs that were introduced during Trump's first, resulted in losses of more than 20% in revenue for German wine makers. With 11% of the total volume of Germany's wine exports (equivalent to 118 million liters), the US is the most important export market for German wines, with exporters using the period of reduced tariffs to ship as much wine as possible to the other side of the Atlantic. While German vineyards are exploring alternative markets, Büscher said it can take several years to establish relationships with importers, retailers or restaurants. . To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said he rejects the idea of banning the far-right, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In an interview with German outlet , Dobrindt — of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Union list — labeled banning the party as "the fundamentally wrong way." He said such a process could take years, during which time it could get even more difficult to tackle their rising support. Dobrindt also warned that banning the party would lead to the reinforcement of the party's victim role, saying he didn't want to "do this favor for the AfD." Several members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the second party in Germany's coalition, have expressed support for a ban. Most recently, Matthias Miersch, head of the SPD in the Bundestag, spoke out in favor of a ban. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, is expected to decide on the appointment of three new judges to the Federal Constitutional Court. The conservative bloc, made from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and sister Bavarian party Christian Social Union (CSU), has proposed Federal Labour Court judge Günter Spinner. The Social Democratic party (SPD), the conservatives' coalition partner, has nominated law professors Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf and Ann-Katrin Kaufhold. A two-thirds majority is needed for judges to be elected to the high court. The far-right AfD has said it would support Spinner, but not the SPD candidates. The conservative may be reliant on AfD votes to get its candidate through as it has so far rejected talks with the Left Party. However, votes are secret so it will not necessarily be clear if the AfD votes are what gets Spinner across the line. As for the SPD candidates, the CDU has expressed doubts over Brosius-Gersdorf's appointment, citing alleged plagiarism. They had already viewed her as too liberal on the topic of abortion and her advocating for mandatory vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Germany's conservatives would therefore like to postpone the vote on Brosius-Gersdorf's appointment. Based in the southern German city of Karlsruhe, the Federal Constitutional Court ensures compliance with the country's constitution, known as Basic Law. Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, is set to vote on tax breaks running into the billions of euros as the government seeks to support companies and boost investment. The package includes more options for businesses to account for the depreciation in the value of their machinery, a move intended to increase investment, while also promising to gradually reduce Germany's corporate tax rate from 15% to 10% by 2032. The tax cut could result in costs at the federal, state and local levels of up to €48 billion ($56 billion). The federal government has agreed to cover the loss in taxes for German states, some of which are heavily in debt, until 2029. The Bundesrat is also expected to vote on extending rate controls in some residential areas until the end of 2029. The current measures, only in place in limited areas, limit rents to 10% above the local average. Both measures being voted on on Friday were part of the coalition agreement between the center-right Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats. Good morning and thank you for joining us today as we bring you the latest news, explainers and analysis from Germany. Several key votes are set to take place today. The German upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, is set to vote on a corporate tax cut as well as rent control measures. Meanwhile, the lower house, the Bundestag, is set to vote on new judges to be appointed to the constitutional court. A split is also emerging between Germany's ruling coalition over calls to ban the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Follow our blog for all this and more!
