Scholz supports increased protection for the Federal Constitutional Court

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Chancellor Scholz (SPD) during a panel discussion on Tuesday in Potsdam

Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has supported the idea of ​​providing the Federal Constitutional Court with greater protection against political interference. "I think it's a good debate that's taking place now," said the SPD politician on Tuesday evening at a discussion in Potsdam. He added: "It's right to do these things now."

The traffic light coalition is considering enshrining details of the election and term of office of constitutional judges not just in a simple law, but in the Basic Law. These could then no longer be changed with a simple majority, but only with a two-thirds majority. This could, for example, prevent judges from being relatively easily removed from office or the role of the Constitutional Court from being changed in the event of a change of government.

Recently, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) and several members of the traffic light parties also spoke out in favor of better legal security measures. Discussions about this are already underway, says Buschmann. Other members of the traffic light parties also appeared to SPIEGEL to be open to reforming the Basic Law, such as Green MP Till Steffen and Johannes Fechner, parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group.

Scholz supported the considerations, but at the same time said that he was sure that the majority of citizens obviously disagreed with the extreme right and that they would prevent such efforts. Democratic citizens should not see themselves as the minority. “We are most of them,” said Scholz.

Scholz made the comments at a public event in conversation with the writer Juli Zeh and in response to questions from citizens in his constituency. Regarding the strength of the AfD in Germany, he said: "I think it's terrible." However, there are growing right-wing populist parties not only in Germany, but also in Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Italy. “Something is already on the way,” said Scholz. The fact that this is now also increasing in Germany is “something that weighs heavily on me.”

Specifically, there is concern in this country that, given poll numbers of 20 to 30 percent, the AfD could gain influence. It is also being discussed whether a third senate with new judges could then be set up. This could then decide on important disputes, especially those involving party politics.

lpz/dpa