Overview

• The 12‑member Richterwahlausschuss meets Monday night to advance Sigrid Emmenegger, after July’s collapse forced the SPD to replace Frauke Brosius‑Gersdorf.
• A secret ballot in the Bundestag is slated for Thursday to elect three judges, with each candidate needing two‑thirds of votes and a majority of all members.
• Union leader Jens Spahn praised Emmenegger as highly qualified and said he expects the vote to succeed, though cross‑party backing remains decisive.
• Die Linke will allow a conscience vote and says the CDU has not engaged directly on its nominee Günter Spinner, while the Greens offered cautious praise for Emmenegger without a firm pledge.
• The AfD urged the Union to reject SPD nominee Ann‑Katrin Kaufhold but signaled no objection to Emmenegger or Spinner; failure to reach two‑thirds could shift appointments to the Bundesrat.