The new federal election law poses existential dangers for the CSU. What if Karlsruhe does not uphold complaints? The party leader is demonstratively confident the day before the hearing.
Shortly before the oral hearing before the Federal Constitutional Court on the new federal election law, CSU leader Markus Söder confirmed that the Union considers it to be unconstitutional for several reasons.
After a CSU board meeting in Munich, Söder mentioned the rules enforced by the traffic light coalition for the allocation of constituencies and the abolition of the so-called basic mandate clause. According to this clause, three direct mandates are currently sufficient for entry into the Bundestag, even if the second vote result is less than five percent. “We have a clear position on this,” said Söder. At the oral hearing in Karlsruhe, they will be represented by CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt and the Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.
“Afterwards we will see what verdict can be expected from this,” said Söder. Regardless, he emphasized: The CSU will do everything it can to not only be represented again in the next Bundestag, but also to get well above five percent. “We’re currently at seven,” he said, adding: “Anyone who’s worried: you don’t have to worry.” Regarding speculation that the CSU could enter into a formal list connection with the CDU if necessary, he said that this was not constitutionally possible.
Oral negotiations in Karlsruhe this week
The oral hearing on lawsuits against the new federal election law implemented by the traffic light government in the federal government will take place in Karlsruhe on Tuesday and Wednesday. Last June, the Bundestag passed the new electoral law despite resistance from the Union and the Left Party. The reform aims to reduce the size of the Bundestag. In the future, the number of seats a party will have will only be determined by its second vote result.
This can result in successful constituency candidates not receiving their direct mandate. The basic mandate clause is also no longer applicable. For the CSU, which can only be elected in Bavaria, the new electoral law could ultimately mean that it would no longer be in the Bundestag if the nationwide result was below five percent. In the 2021 election, the CSU’s nationwide share of the second vote was 5.2 percent.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
