The recent failed election of judges in the Bundestag has ignited a debate over the current electoral process, with calls for reform now emerging from within the government. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer has publicly suggested a reconsideration of the requirement for two-thirds majorities when electing judges.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Weimer acknowledged he is not a constitutional expert but argued that a shift towards simple majority votes should be explored. He emphasized the need to minimize the influence of extremist factions currently represented within the Bundestag.
The situation, according to Weimer, is a direct consequence of a fundamental shift in the distribution of power within parliament – a dynamic unfamiliar to the Federal Republic to date. He explained that the necessity of securing a two-thirds majority for judicial appointments, when such consensus is no longer achievable through the traditional broad-based parties or a coalition of centrist forces, risks the chaotic outcome recently witnessed. The public outcry, he stated, reflected the severity of this altered parliamentary landscape.
The call for reform echoes a similar stance taken recently by CSU leader Markus Söder, who also advocated for modifying the electoral procedure to allow judges to be elected with a simple majority vote. The debate underscores the growing pressure to adapt parliamentary procedures to the current political realities.