Court Rulings Highlight Neutrality in Political Disputes

The Constitutional Court of Rhineland-Palatinate is set to rule on a lawsuit by the AfD against former Prime Minister Malu Dreyer. The AfD accuses Dreyer of breaching neutrality by making statements related to a demonstration on state channels. This case underscores the requirement that state organs remain impartial in party competition. Both parties expressed confidence after a recent hearing.

In a related development, Thuringia's parliamentary president, Thadäus König, dismissed the AfD's demand to remove Klaus von der Weiden, President of the Thuringian Constitutional Court, and another judge. The AfD questioned their neutrality, but König found these claims legally baseless. He emphasized the independence of the Constitutional Court and the parliamentary election of its members. König clarified that he lacks the authority to dismiss court members without substantial grounds, which were absent in this case. These events highlight the ongoing discourse on judicial neutrality in Germany.