Following a protracted and challenging process, Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, successfully elected three new judges to the Federal Constitutional Court. The elections, held Thursday evening, concluded a period of significant political maneuvering and uncertainty surrounding the selection of individuals to serve on the court.
Sigrid Emmenegger, Ann-Katrin Kaufhold and Günter Spinner secured the necessary two-thirds majority, bringing an end to a drawn-out sequence of attempts and setbacks. The previous attempt to elect a judge, in July, had collapsed after opposition parties withdrew their support for a nominated candidate. This prior failure, according to German Judges Association (DRB) federal managing director Sven Rebehn, eroded confidence both within the governing coalition and among the general public, who expect a well-ordered and appropriate process for selecting judges for the vital constitutional body.
Relief was expressed across the political spectrum regarding the successful outcome. Heidi Reichinnek, parliamentary group chairperson for the Left party, welcomed the elections and emphasized that a further public embarrassment had been averted.
However, the process and the choices made have triggered varying levels of criticism. Reichinnek placed the blame for the extended period of deadlock squarely on the conservative CDU and CSU parties, accusing them of politicizing the selection process and allowing it to be exploited by extremist elements. She argued that their actions have significantly undermined the court’s standing.
Stephan Brandner, a spokesperson for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and a member of the Bundestag’s electoral committee, voiced criticism regarding the election of Ann-Katrin Kaufhold. He asserted that her appointment damages the court’s reputation and the rule of law, further questioning the support she received from CDU and CSU members, which he deemed surprising and indicative of prioritizing coalition stability over core values.
The successful election marks a resolution to a complex situation but also highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the selection of individuals to serve on Germany’s highest court.
