Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) accused the Union of not doing enough to protect democracy and the rule of law from sabotage. “In these times, state political responsibility is needed instead of a fundamental opposition,” Faeser told the German Press Agency on Friday. Especially when it comes to protecting democracy, the principle should apply to all democrats: “Country first, party second.”

For the moment, the Union sees no need to further protect the Federal Constitutional Court from influence in response to the rise of extreme parties and has ended corresponding talks with the traffic light government.

“The Union parliamentary group does not currently see any compelling need to amend the provisions of the Basic Law on the Federal Constitutional Court,” deputy chairman of the Union parliamentary group Andrea Lindholz (CSU) told the “Rheinische Post” ( Friday).

“The rule of law must not be able to be sabotaged from within”

In conversations with representatives of the traffic light factions it became clear that the restructuring of the legal basis of the Federal Constitutional Court would not only bring advantages. Such changes to the Basic Law would have to be considered very carefully.

The traffic light coalition has considered putting the details about the election and mandate of constitutional judges not only in a simple law, but also in the Basic Law. In that case they could no longer be modified with a simple majority, but only with a two-thirds majority. This could, for example, prevent judges from being removed from office relatively easily in the event of a change of government.

“Our constitutional state must not be allowed to be sabotaged from within,” Faeser said. “When authoritarian forces attack democracy, the judiciary is usually their first target,” the minister warned.

The union faction rejected the criticism.

This could be observed in neighboring European countries. Therefore, it is necessary to more firmly guarantee the independence of the Federal Constitutional Court.” To this end, it would be advisable to include central rules on organization and procedures in the Basic Law.

The union faction rejected the criticism. His parliamentary director, Thorsten Frei, told dpa that Faeser had “totally missed the point and the center” with his criticism. It is not his group's job to play the role of “cleaner” for the government.

“Instead of trying to silence us,” the traffic light government should address people's concerns and needs. The CDU politician criticized: “Traffic lights push laws through parliament that the majority of citizens only shake their heads at.” This applies, among other things, to the heating law, the closure of nuclear power plants in the event of an energy crisis and the release of cannabis.