The unsuccessful candidate for the position of judge at the Federal Constitutional Court, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, has described the period surrounding her nomination as “existential” and akin to “a state of emergency”. In an interview with the German weekly magazine “Die Zeit” Brosius-Gersdorf expressed profound distress over the experience, detailing a sudden and intense public scrutiny she found deeply challenging.
“I was previously a private person” she stated. “As a scientist, I essentially worked at my desk. When you are thrust into the public eye and encounter falsehoods being spread about you and experience online harassment, you simply have to figure out how to get through the days.
Brosius-Gersdorf alleges a distorted and inaccurate portrayal of her views was deliberately created. She criticized what she characterized as a lack of willingness from some members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group to engage in substantive discussions about her candidacy.
She explained that during initial, informal conversations, she proactively offered to discuss her perspective on the topic of abortion, anticipating possible disagreements. “However, such a conversation was not desired. Therefore, I was surprised that the topic later became such a problem and led to the conclusion that I was not electable” she said, noting that the court’s senate, for which she was nominated, does not address abortion-related issues.
Brosius-Gersdorf also commented on the lack of communication from the Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, stating that it had been an error for him to frame the parliamentary vote on the judge selection as a matter of conscience. She asserted that selecting a judge is a personnel decision, not a matter of personal belief.
Her decision to withdraw her candidacy was a drawn-out process, she said and one with which she continues to struggle. “It’s a decision I frankly still grapple with because ultimately, unsubstantiated campaigns prevailed”. Despite her reservations, she maintains the decision was correct, as she believed her chances of election were nonexistent and withdrawing prevented further escalation of the situation.