Baden-Württemberg Court Approves FDP's Petition Against Expanding State Parliament

The constitutional court ruled the FDP's proposed referendum on reducing parliamentary seats is lawful, overruling the Interior Ministry's rejection.

The FDP's proposed referendum, titled 'Prevent XXL-Landtag,' seeks to reduce Baden-Württemberg's electoral districts from 70 to 38 to curb parliamentary expansion.
The Interior Ministry had previously rejected the referendum, deeming it unconstitutional, but the constitutional court disagreed and approved its legality.
The FDP argues the current system risks excessive growth in the state parliament, potentially exceeding 200 members, which could lead to significant cost increases.
The new electoral system, introduced in 2022, combines direct mandates with proportional representation, leading to overhang and compensatory mandates that inflate the parliament's size.
Despite the court's approval, procedural timelines make it unlikely that the referendum will impact the 2026 state elections.