The meeting of Justice Ministers urges enhanced security for the Federal Constitutional Court.
"We collectively need to work towards preventing any weakening of the rule of law," stated Anna Gallina, the Justice Senator from Hamburg (Greens). The meeting strongly feels that it's crucial to establish more restrictions on the Constitutional Court within the Basic Law. There's a need to analyze the prospect of etching out a two-thirds majority requirement for electing judges into the Basic Law.
Apart from that, discussions will cover a compensation mechanism for voting blockages and if changes to the Federal Constitutional Court Act require Bundesrat approval. Schilling, Bremen's Justice Senator (SPD), says, "I'm hoping that federal-level talks move forward soon and at a brisk pace."
Following this, Sven Rebehn, the German Judges' Association's managing director, vociferated, "The federal government and state governments must promptly reach a consensus on measures that would best safeguard the Federal Constitutional Court against political meddling and targeted roadblocks."
In light of the rise of the AfD, there have been lengthy discourses over how to shield the justice system -- most significantly: the Federal Constitutional Court -- from potential influence. Currently, the court's statute can be adjusted simply with a majority in the Bundestag. However, for a basic law amendment, a two-thirds majority is demanded.
Towards the end of May, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) spoke with the "Rheinische Post" and expressed his anticipation that by the year's end, a basic law amendment would be settled to immunize the Federal Constitutional Court from external impacts. The negotiations between the governing coalition and the Union are "profound and dependable."
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- Anna Gallina, the Justice Senator from Hamburg (Greens), emphasized the importance of preserving the rule of law and protecting the Federal Constitutional Court from any potential weakening.
- The meeting of Justice Ministers agreed on the necessity of implementing stricter restrictions on the Constitutional Court, including the possibility of introducing a two-thirds majority requirement for electing judges.
- Kathrin Wahlmann, the Justice Minister of Hanover (SPD), supported the consensus reached at the meeting and emphasized the necessity of swift federal-level discussions to safeguard the Federal Constitutional Court.
- The Conference of Justice Ministers also considered the prospect of establishing a compensation mechanism for voting blockages at the Federal Constitutional Court and whether changes to the Federal Constitutional Court Act require Bundesrat approval.
- Sven Rebehn, the German Judges' Association's managing director, urged the federal and state governments to act promptly to ensure that the Federal Constitutional Court is shielded from political meddling and targeted roadblocks, a concern that has been heightened in the context of the rise of the AfD.
