CDU/CSU Blocks Constitutional Court Nomination: Woidke Criticizes “Lack of Leadership“

Berlin, Germany – Brandenburg’s Minister-President Dietmar Woidke has sharply criticized the CDU/CSU’s handling of the nomination of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for the Federal Constitutional Court, calling it a “disgrace” and a symptom of the Union’s “lack of leadership.” The controversy has stalled the election of three new judges to Germany’s highest court, highlighting deep divisions within the federal coalition.

Union Resistance Derails Nomination

The planned election of three judges for the Federal Constitutional Court,originally scheduled for July 11,was removed from the Bundestag‘s agenda due to meaningful resistance within the CDU/CSU faction against Brosius-Gersdorf. Despite earlier assurances, the Union’s leadership coudl no longer guarantee her consent, a move that has drawn strong condemnation.

“It is not understandable to me that a qualified candidate has been discredited in this way by parts of the CDU/CSU,” Woidke stated, emphasizing that the procedure reflects poorly on the Berlin coalition at the federal level. He added, “Unluckily, it was not possible with the CDU/CSU due to a lack of leadership.”

The SPD had proposed constitutional lawyer Ann-Katrin Kaufhold as another candidate, while the Union nominated Federal Prosecutor Günter Spinner.A proposal by CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann to create a new “judge package” faced resistance from the SPD and the Greens, further complicating the situation.

Reservations Against Brosius-Gersdorf

The reservations within the Union against Brosius-Gersdorf reportedly stem from her perceived liberal stance on abortion and her positive view on mandatory vaccination during the Corona crisis. Brosius-Gersdorf has held the chair for public law, with a focus on constitutional law and social law, at the University of Potsdam since 2021.

Woidke Urges Early Opposition Involvement

Considering the impasse,the Brandenburg Prime Minister appealed to all parties involved to foster greater cooperation. He specifically advised that opposition parties should be brought into the process earlier. “The parties you need for a two-thirds majority must be included early – these are the Left Party and the Greens,” Woidke stressed, underscoring the necessity of broad consensus for such significant appointments.

The ongoing deadlock over the Federal Constitutional Court nominations underscores the challenges facing the federal government in achieving consensus on critical judicial appointments, with the CDU/CSU’s internal divisions playing a significant role.