Overview
- The Federal Constitutional Court has nominated Günter Spinner, Oliver Klein, and Eva Menges to succeed Justice Josef Christ, who reached mandatory retirement age in November 2024.
- The Bundestag has not been able to elect a successor due to the requirement of a two-thirds majority, which necessitates cross-party cooperation in a fragmented parliament.
- The court’s nominations follow a February decision to act if no progress was made within a reasonable timeframe; these proposals are not binding on the Bundestag.
- If the Bundestag fails to elect a successor within three months, the Bundesrat will assume the responsibility of appointing a judge under recently reformed constitutional rules.
- Upcoming judicial retirements, including Vice-President Doris König in June and Ulrich Maidowski in September, add urgency to resolving the current impasse.