A stalemate persists in discussions surrounding the filling of vacant judge positions at the Federal Constitutional Court, with the SPD parliamentary group strongly advocating for the candidacy of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf and pressing the CDU/CSU to accept an open dialogue with her. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch, in an interview with “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, asserted that Brosius-Gersdorf is an exceptional candidate and highlighted the clear endorsement she received from the judge election committee, supported even by votes within the CDU/CSU.
Miersch expressed his expectation that the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and the Federal Chancellor provide Brosius-Gersdorf with the opportunity to engage in a substantive discussion, facilitating reasoned consideration beyond the current heightened tensions, drawing a parallel to the actions of representatives from the Catholic Church.
The disagreement follows a prior suggestion from Brandenburg’s Minister President Dietmar Woidke, who advised the SPD to develop a fresh set of nominations for the open positions, alongside Brosius-Gersdorf’s candidacy. The SPD has also nominated Katrin Kaufhold, while the CDU/CSU has nominated Günter Spinner.
The stated objective is to reach a resolution before the scheduled meeting of CDU and SPD parliamentary leaders in Würzburg on August 28th and 29th, a gathering intended to prepare for key reform decisions in the autumn. Despite the current impasse, Miersch confirmed that his working relationship with CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn remains positive, emphasizing ongoing communication and the need to secure necessary majorities for upcoming legislative actions.