German Lawmakers Push to Strengthen Constitutional Court Protections

Proposed changes would embed key court safeguards in the constitution, requiring a two-thirds majority for future amendments.

The Bundestag is set to vote on changes that would move critical rules about the Federal Constitutional Court from regular law to the constitution.
This shift aims to protect the court from potential political influence or manipulation by requiring a two-thirds majority for amendments.
The proposal is backed by a coalition of the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, and FDP, though some, like the Greens, advocate for additional measures such as stricter judicial election rules.
Niedersachsen's Ministerpräsident Stephan Weil emphasized the urgency of securing these protections before the next federal election, even if some state-level proposals are not included.
The Bundesrat is expected to discuss the initiative on December 20, with broad support for ensuring the court remains a robust defender of democracy.