Critics of Bavaria's Bundeswehr Act threaten to sue

Protest before state parliament vote - Critics of Bavaria's Bundeswehr Act threaten to sue

One week before the planned vote on the new Bundeswehr Law by the state government, critics are threatening to file a constitutional complaint. Over 1,000 people - among them singer-songwriter Konstantin Wecker, theologian Margot Käßmann, former IG Metall chief Jürgen Peters, and civil rights lawyer, jurist, and publicist Rolf Gössner - have signed a petition against the law and demanded a withdrawal of the decision. They fear that with its implementation, there will be a "militarization of the educational sector."

The passage of the law in the state parliament is planned for the coming Wednesday (17. July) - it aims to prevent universities and universities from banning military use of their research, even if such "civil clauses" do not exist anywhere in the state. Instead, a cooperation requirement for universities and the Bundeswehr is to be prescribed, and in matters of national security, a cooperation duty.

Moreover, state schools are to collaborate with youth officers. Provisions are also planned for easing the Bundeswehr's access to research and development at universities, as well as simplifying their access to schools and taking into account the requirements of defense and civil protection in spatial planning.

Critics have constitutional concerns

The critics also complain that the arguments raised by the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) Bavaria in the legislative process have not been acknowledged until now. The Gewerkschaft has constitutional concerns, as the law "disproportionately interferes with the autonomy of universities and thus with research and academic freedom, and violates academic freedom at schools."

Eduard Meusel from the GEW stated, "The new Bundeswehr Law represents a massive infringement on the fundamental rights of researchers, scientists, and scientific institutions. Although they have a constitutional right to academic freedom, they will be denied any possibility of declaring themselves exclusively for peaceful research and teaching by the Bavarian state government from now on."

1. Jürgen Peters, a former IG Metall chief, also signed the petition against the new Bundeswehr Law, expressing concerns about the potential "militarization of the educational sector."
2. The planned vote on the new Bundeswehr Law is scheduled for the coming Wednesday in Munich, and it includes provisions for easing the Bundeswehr's access to research at universities.
3. Margot Käßmann, theologian and one of the signatories of the petition, shares concerns that the law may interfere with academic freedom in schools and universities in Bavaria.
4. The German Armed Forces have been under scrutiny, with critics filing a constitutional complaint over the new Bundeswehr Law, which could impact universities and universities of applied sciences in the state.
5. Konstantin Wecker, a notable musician, is among the 1,000 people who have signed the petition against the law, expressing concerns about how it could impact the autonomy of educational institutions.
6. The state government's constitutional complaint has raised concerns among critics, who argue that the law disproportionately infringes on the rights of researchers and academic institutions, as noted by Eduard Meusel, the GEW Bavaria representative.

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