Germany Passes Law to Safeguard Judicial Independence from Authoritarian Threats

The Bundestag approved constitutional protections for the Federal Constitutional Court, requiring a two-thirds majority to alter its rules.

German lawmakers overwhelmingly voted, 600 to 69, to enshrine rules protecting the Federal Constitutional Court in the constitution.
The legislation aims to prevent future manipulation by extremist or authoritarian politicians, citing examples in Poland and Hungary.
Key reforms include securing 12-year term limits for judges, a maximum age of 68, and a two-thirds majority requirement for changes to court rules.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), polling at 19-20% ahead of February’s snap election, criticized the move as consolidating mainstream party control.
This marks the first major legislative action since the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government in November.