"Nothing can be ruled out" in the election: Chancellor Frei: Brosius-Gersdorf was "wronged"

What happens next after the failed election of SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for the position of judge? Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei admits that the plagiarism allegations against the lawyer were unjustified. Nevertheless, three completely new candidates could now be nominated.

In the dispute over the SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for the Federal Constitutional Court seat, Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei is keeping all options open. "I believe it is right not to rule anything out in the current situation, but rather to approach further discussions with a great deal of openness," Frei told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) in response to a suggestion that the other two judicial candidates could also be withdrawn.

Previously, CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann had already advocated for a personnel package that could consist of "completely new names." In addition to Brosius-Gersdorf, the SPD had also nominated constitutional lawyer Ann-Katrin Kaufhold, while the CDU/CSU had nominated federal labor court judge Günter Spinner.

Wüst wants a new start

The election of three candidates for Germany's highest court was removed from the Bundestag's agenda at short notice on July 11. The reason was resistance within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Contrary to previous promises, the parliamentary group leadership could no longer guarantee support for Brosius-Gersdorf. Concerns within the parliamentary group arose, among other things, because of her liberal stance on abortion. The SPD continues to support its candidate.

CDU politician Frei considers the plagiarism allegations against Brosius-Gersdorf to be dispelled. "They have proven to be unfounded, and thus she has been wronged," he admitted. At the same time, he rejected speculation that CDU/CSU MPs had allowed themselves to be influenced by the AfD. One can be quite certain that the CDU/CSU MPs formed their own opinions on political issues. "I reject the idea that they were influenced by anyone," said the head of the Chancellery.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst advised the federal coalition to discuss the judicial election "objectively and calmly during the summer recess" so that a new attempt could be made in September. In the magazine "Focus," Wüst described Brosius-Gersdorf as "a highly skilled lawyer and a strong personality." He said many of the attacks against her were "absolutely unacceptable."