The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is reserving its position regarding the upcoming vote to fill three vacancies on the Federal Constitutional Court. A spokesperson for the party indicated that assessments of the three candidates have been made based on publicly available information, revealing a spectrum of perspectives on their suitability.
Stephan Brandner, AfD’s deputy federal spokesperson and a member of the electoral committee, informed the “Rheinische Post” that all three candidates have been invited to present themselves to the AfD parliamentary group this Monday. He emphasized that the party’s voting decision will be determined following these presentations, committee discussions and thorough questioning. Brandner stated that the parliamentary group is “looking forward to the presentations of the three candidates with interest.
While the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are advocating for the nomination of Judge Günter Spinner from the Federal Labour Court, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is reportedly backing two professors of public law, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf and Ann-Katrin Kaufhold. Brandner previously expressed reservations about the candidacy of Brosius-Gersdorf, suggesting it would be met with significant opposition from democratic factions. He has not commented on Spinner’s candidacy.
The Bundestag’s Electoral Committee is scheduled to release a recommendation regarding the vacancies later today, Monday, at 8:00 PM. Following this recommendation, a vote will take place in the full parliamentary assembly. A two-thirds majority of votes cast is required for a successful election. The current governing coalition is seeking to avoid reliance on AfD support and is likely to require votes from the Left and Green parties to secure the necessary majority.
