The selection process for judges at Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court is facing increased scrutiny and calls for swift resolution as political disagreements threaten to delay crucial appointments. Katharina Dröge, leader of the Green Party’s parliamentary group, voiced strong concern over the lack of engagement from the CDU/CSU and SPD regarding the judicial appointments. Dröge emphasized the urgency of a parliamentary vote in early September, stating that continued postponement due to internal disputes within the governing parties is irresponsible towards the court itself.
Dröge directly criticized the leadership of Jens Spahn (CDU) and Matthias Miersch (SPD), questioning Spahn’s ability to secure support within his own parliamentary group for a proposal he initiated. She further accused Miersch of poor communication and a failure to learn from earlier coalition difficulties, pointing to public discussions of potential candidates without prior consultation with key stakeholders.
The SPD refuted Dröge’s assessment of communication, stating that Matthias Miersch is in contact with the Green Party’s leadership.
Dröge affirmed the Green Party’s commitment to supporting the two previously nominated candidates, but stressed the necessity of securing democratic majorities for all appointments. She explicitly ruled out reliance on support from the AfD and called for the CDU/SPD to engage in discussions with The Left party to achieve the required consensus. The Greens also expressed willingness to discuss a third candidate to ensure the court’s operational capacity.
Clara Bünger, spokesperson for The Left party, echoed the call for immediate action, urging the SPD to facilitate a meeting amongst all democratic parties to prevent further damage to the reputation and functionality of the Federal Constitutional Court. Bünger asserted that the court should not be subject to partisan maneuvering.