Following a failed election for a judge on the Federal Constitutional Court, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has expressed his full support for the parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn.
When questioned about Spahn’s continued suitability for the leadership position, Merz responded affirmatively during a recent interview on ARD television. He emphasized that directives cannot be issued to members of parliament, acknowledging that the rejection of the nominee, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, represented a matter of conscience for some members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
Merz attributed the outcome to a situation where all parties involved were likely overwhelmed, referring to the SPD, who proposed Brosius-Gersdorf as a candidate. He stated that the process was unanticipated in its current form, though earlier anxieties circulated within the CDU/CSU group regarding her candidacy. Similar reservations were also present within the SPD, citing former Health Minister Ulla Schmidt as an example.
The Chancellor assured that a similar situation will not recur and indicated that he intends to discuss future procedures with the SPD in a measured and deliberate manner, stating there is no immediate urgency.
