Berlin, July 14, 2025 – Germany’s recently formed governing coalition has entered its first serious political crisis, just two months after taking office. The dispute centers on the proposed appointment of a female judge to the Federal Constitutional Court — an issue that has ignited a fierce clash between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Christian Democratic/Christian Social Union bloc (CDU/CSU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The conflict erupted on Friday when CDU/CSU abruptly withdrew support for SPD-nominated candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, a constitutional law professor at the University of Potsdam. The rejection came despite Merz having previously agreed to the nomination, sparking outrage within the SPD and threatening the credibility of the Federal Constitutional Court, a historically apolitical and highly respected institution in Germany.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reportedly expressed deep concern over the government’s internal handling of the matter, calling it a “self-inflicted blow” that jeopardizes institutional trust.
The Bundestag was expected to vote on filling three vacant seats in the Federal Constitutional Court. What is usually a formal and nonpartisan process was derailed when CDU/CSU floor leader Jens Spahn demanded the SPD withdraw Brosius-Gersdorf’s nomination from the parliamentary agenda, citing last-minute opposition within his bloc. Spahn even threatened a mass abstention from the vote.
Despite the pressure, SPD refused to withdraw the candidate. The parliamentary session was dramatically paused just before the first vote to allow SPD lawmakers to hold an emergency caucus. Shortly after, SPD proposed removing all judicial nominations from the day’s agenda to allow time to resolve the dispute within the governing coalition.
However, this decision has significant consequences. Friday’s session was the final one before the Bundestag’s summer recess, and the next plenary session isn’t scheduled until September 10 — leaving key judicial posts vacant.
Criticism against Brosius-Gersdorf has also come from conservative circles, including CDU/CSU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), who label her as a “left-wing activist” due to her progressive legal interpretations, particularly on human dignity and abortion rights.
Fueling the controversy further, some CDU lawmakers accused Brosius-Gersdorf of plagiarism in her doctoral thesis. However, Der Spiegel reported that these allegations appear to be politically motivated and were quickly dismissed by other CDU officials as unfounded.
This dispute now threatens not only coalition unity but also the perception of judicial neutrality in Germany. Observers warn that using court appointments for political sparring could erode trust in democratic institutions and set a worrying precedent.
