Berlin’s Landeswahlleiter, Stephan Bröchler, expects a series of constitutional lawsuits in the upcoming federal election on February 23. While every election leads to such lawsuits, this case is special, he told RTL and ntv, as there is only a 14-day time frame for postal voting.
“Especially a group is affected by this: the Germans abroad” Bröchler said. For many of them, the time will be too short to return their ballots on time. The election packages will only be sent out on February 10, just 13 days before the election. “I reckon there will be lawsuits” he said.
The problem is also due to the 60-day rule, according to which, after the Bundestag’s dissolution, new elections must take place, Bröchler stated. “After the election, one should take the time to think about the 60-day rule” he said. “One should also discuss whether, in the future, it will be possible to vote at embassies or consulates.