Germany’s Constitutional Court Rules on AfD Chairmanship in Bundestag Committees
Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), does not have an automatic right to chair parliamentary committees in the Bundestag, despite its current strength. The court upheld the right of committees to choose their chairpersons and vote against AfD candidates, as seen in the 2019 ousting of Stephan Brandner as chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee.
Parliamentary committees in the Bundestag are crucial for policy discussion, scrutiny, and presenting reports to the rest of parliament. While the AfD has been shut out from chairing committees due to lack of cooperation from other parties, the court affirmed that this decision was within the committees’ powers as defined by the Bundestag’s rules of procedure.
The ruling has sparked debate and criticism from the AfD, with Brandner calling it a “black day for parliamentary politics.” However, the court clarified that fair representation does not necessarily extend to committee chair positions. As Germany prepares for upcoming elections, the decision will have implications for the AfD’s future involvement in parliamentary affairs.