Former Constitutional Court Judge Calls for Prompt Inclusion of AfD Nominees in Karlsruhe

Gertrude Lübbe-Wolff, who previously served on Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, told LTO that appointing judges nominated by the AfD to the Karlsruhe court should happen as soon as possible. She described one outlet exclusion of AfD candidates as counterproductive, arguing it fuels radicalisation within the party. Drawing on examples from the FPÖ in Austria and the SVP in Switzerland, she said right-wing representation in courts has not led to operational issues.

Lübbe-Wolff warned that the existing “brandmauer” discourages qualified individuals from presenting themselves for nomination. She suggested that the selection process could remain political but be supplemented by an open call to avoid procedural mishaps like the 2025 case involving Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. Finally, she linked the court’s authority to public confidence, noting that perceived bias erodes trust in its decisions.