Former SPD Minister of Health, Ulla Schmidt, has publicly accused the CDU/CSU and their leader, Friedrich Merz, of attempting to co-opt her stance on the controversial legal candidate, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf.
In an interview with “Stern” magazine, Schmidt expressed concern that the CDU is utilizing her previous statements to deflect attention from their own internal challenges regarding the Verfassungsgericht (Constitutional Court) nomination. “I am currently being used as a star witness to cover up their own mistakes” she stated. While acknowledging the pressure surrounding the contentious appointment, Schmidt emphasized that her perspective shouldn’s be interpreted as an attempt to suggest that opposition to Brosius-Gersdorf originates solely from the CDU.
Schmidt clarified that, had she remained a Member of Parliament, she would likely have supported Brosius-Gersdorf’s candidacy, despite reservations about her views on human dignity. She characterized Brosius-Gersdorf as an undeniably accomplished legal professional.
She urged the CDU to swiftly and clearly define their position on the nomination. Schmidt anticipates that Brosius-Gersdorf will remain a candidate and believes the CDU must now actively work to secure the necessary parliamentary support within their own party. She pointed out that Chancellor Merz himself recently declared Brosius-Gersdorf to be electable, suggesting a miscalculation of public sentiment within the CDU leadership.
Schmidt’s earlier critiques of Brosius-Gersdorf recently sparked a broader public debate. Chancellor Merz specifically referenced her comments during a recent televised interview to illustrate that dissent regarding the constitutional court nominee isn’t limited to one political faction.