New face at the Federal Constitutional Court: Sigrid Emmenegger proposed!

New face at the Federal Constitutional Court: Sigrid Emmenegger proposed!

Things will be exciting in the political arena in the coming weeks, because on September 10, 2025, the SPD proposed Sigrid Emmenegger as a candidate for the position at the Federal Constitutional Court. The position had previously become vacant after Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf was not elected due to a lack of support in the Union parliamentary group. This change could bring a breath of fresh air into the court.

Sigrid Emmenegger, born on October 4, 1976 in Freiburg im Breisgau, has an impressive career. After studying law and Euroculture at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, she received her doctorate in “Legislative Art” in 2006. She has been a judge at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig since 2021 and has previously held several important positions in the German judiciary. After joining the judicial service of Rhineland-Palatinate in 2006, she was, among other things, vice president at the Koblenz Administrative Court.

The political background of the election

The Union has spoken positively about the candidate. CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann highlighted Emmenegger's reticence in public appearances, which left a "positive impression". But the choice is not without challenges. To be successful, Emmenegger needs a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. To achieve this, discussions must be held with the Greens and the Left Party, who have expressed reservations about her nomination in the past.

The coalition factions are making a second attempt to elect three judges after the first attempt was called off due to the failed election of Brosius-Gersdorf. In this context, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is criticized by the SPD for his description of the secret ballot as a “question of conscience”. The political landscape is characterized by a certain thrill, as the AfD is considering its support for Emmenegger and awaits an introduction from its parliamentary group.

Challenges and political influences

The politics surrounding the judicial elections have shown that acceptance of the Federal Constitutional Court's rulings is crucial for its existence. A balanced cast that represents the political spectrum is essential. There are concerns that extremists should be barred from voting for judges by monitoring parties. The selection process requires agreement between the parties - despite the competition.

Experts fear that the AfD's decisions could have an impact on the necessary two-thirds majority, which could be seen as a small victory for the Union. This dynamic makes the upcoming elections particularly exciting, as the Bundestag will vote on Emmenegger and the other candidates on September 26, 2025.

How the political landscape will develop and whether Sigrid Emmenegger will be the first to win a vote in the Federal Constitutional Court remains to be seen. The coming weeks promise political wrangling that could influence not only the judicial election but also the future direction of the court.

For interested readers there are further details about the candidate and the background: Moz.de reports that..., Tagesschau provides information about the political Situation, and the Süddeutsche highlights the challenges and influences.