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German Constitutional Court Proposes Successor Candidates Amid Parliamentary Deadlock

The Federal Constitutional Court has submitted three nominations for Justice Josef Christ’s replacement after months of political stalemate in the Bundestag.

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Die Robe einer Bundesverfassungsrichterin
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Das Bundesverfassungsgericht in Karlsruhe hat zwei derzeitige Bundesrichter und eine Bundesrichterin zur Wahl als Verfassungsrichter vorgeschlagen. Grund für das Vorgehen war, dass noch immer kein Nachfolger für Josef Christ gefunden ist.

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.