Government Affairs - Federal Justice Ministers Push for Reinforcement of the Constitutional Court
The federal ministers of justice across the states are working towards better protecting the Independent Federal Constitutional Court against threats from constitutional adversaries. The Federal Constitutional Court should be shielded from these attacks, suggested Niedersachsen's Justice Minister Kathrin Wahlmann (SPD) to the German Press Agency in Hanover.
The states are currently leading the Justice Ministers' Conference, meeting in Hanover on Wednesday and Thursday. According to Wahlmann, there is widespread agreement amongst the ministers and ministers on this issue.
The German Judges' Association (DRB) urges federal authorities and states to agree on a joint proposal swiftly. "The incidences of Poland and Hungary raise significant concerns about the stability of rule-of-law states," stated Sven Rebehn, the DRB's federal manager.
The Minister: The threat to the rule of law is mainly posed by the law itself
Another main emphasis of the discussions is the reinforcement of the rule-of-law's resilience, said Wahlmann. She argued that it's primarily at risk from the law and sometimes reaches the level of coup fantasies. The ongoing legal proceedings against the Reichsbürger group and Prince Reuß serve as an illustration of this.
Discussions will also centre around harsher penalties for anti-democrat forces. Wahlmann stated: "It's about intensifying the consequences for enemies of democracy, even for offenses like damage to property or insults committed with the intention to undermine democracy, such as against individuals who take part in political discourse." Moreover, she mentioned the most recent attacks on politicians.
Additionally, the ministers will deliberate on measures to speed up proceedings, particularly in the realm of asylum requests. Reports claim that a few motions have been submitted to review potential changes to the procedural law. Wahlmann remarked: "Asylum proceedings tend to be time-consuming. This is not only due to the judicial system, but also since, in specific situations, deportation isn't executable."
Lastly, the issue of asset confiscation is expected to result in a unanimous decision. Wahlmann underscored the importance of the topic: "This is crucial; it's about depriving criminals of their financial resources. We can close certain gaps with the federal government's assistance if they accept our recommendations."
The conference will release the outcomes on Thursday afternoon in Hanover. While these resolutions can significantly influence legal policy development in Germany, they are not legally binding. The leadership of the Justice Ministers' Conference is transitioned annually from one federal state to another.
