A leading figure within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has expressed strong support for Sigrid Emmenegger, the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) nominee for a judge position at the Federal Constitutional Court. CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn commended Emmenegger as an “excellent proposal” during a press briefing in Berlin.
Spahn indicated that the CDU had undertaken a thorough assessment of Emmenegger’s candidacy, including personal evaluations and consultations within various parliamentary committees, where “considerable support” was reportedly garnered. He conveyed optimism that the upcoming vote for the judges will proceed without complications, a contrast to previous attempts.
The selection process for the Karlsruhe-based court had stalled prior to the summer recess, when the CDU unexpectedly withdrew its support for SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. This action prompted accusations from the SPD that the coalition partner had breached prior agreements and succumbed to external pressure.
Electing judges to the Federal Constitutional Court requires a two-thirds majority, necessitating collaboration between the governing coalition and opposition parties, namely the Green Party and the Left. A recurring point of contention has been the perceived lack of engagement from these opposition factions in the judge selection process.