The sudden cancellation of a parliamentary vote to select judges for Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has sparked considerable concern and prompted warnings about the stability of the governing coalition.
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig described the process as “damaged” expressing regret for the impact on the candidate, a respected academic and the proceedings themselves. She emphasized the significance of the Constitutional Court judgeships and underscored the established procedure in place for their selection, noting that deliberately undermining this process can jeopardize the integrity of the democratic system.
Former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has characterized the failed vote as a “warning shot” for the coalition, comprised of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He warned of a “dangerous situation” and cautioned that such a disruption cannot be repeated frequently. Lauterbach stressed the importance of mutual reliance within a coalition government, highlighting that prior commitments from the CDU regarding candidate approval had been unexpectedly withdrawn. He argued that proceeding with the election of all three judges would have been the appropriate course of action given the limited parliamentary majority.
The abrupt shift in support from the CDU faction, which had previously endorsed candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, led to the coalition’s decision to halt all three scheduled votes during the plenary session. This unforeseen withdrawal has raised questions about the ability of the coalition partners to maintain steady cooperation and adhere to agreed-upon procedures. The incident has prompted calls for increased leadership within the CDU and a renewed commitment to relying on the coalition.