The Left is suing Federal Economics Minister Reiche over the Instagram video
Quick Look
- The Left has filed an urgent application with the Federal Constitutional Court against Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) because she warned against the party's participation in government and accused anti-Semitism in an Instagram video after the Left's election victory in Berlin.
- The party sees this as a violation of the neutrality requirement and an interference in political competition.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Left became the strongest force in the election to the House of Representatives in Berlin on September 20th and is now aiming to form a government. The party has previously taken legal action against other politicians who have accused it of anti-Semitism and proximity to criminal clans.
The Left is taking Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) to the Federal Constitutional Court. The reason for the urgent application, which the dpa news agency has received, is an Instagram video from the ministry after the Left's election victory in Berlin. In excerpts from a speech on September 23rd, Reiche warns that it is dangerous for the capital and Germany as an investment location that a party talks about expropriation and writes this into its program and "openly practices anti-Semitism that frightens the Jews in this city."
At the weekend, Reiche told Bild am Sonntag that she feared nationwide losses in growth with a red-red-green alliance in the capital. "What the Left represents here in Berlin and the people who represent them is not only dangerous for Berlin, but for our country," warned Reiche. »It is a danger for Germany as an investment location and as a business location.
The Left had asked Reiche through a lawyer to remove the video by September 29th - but it was still online on Sunday evening. Now the party is pursuing the same goal by going to Karlsruhe. Specifically, the Left argues in the application that Reiche disregarded the neutrality requirement for state organs and violated the Left's right to equal participation in political competition. In her position as Federal Minister of Economics, Reiche made unlawful, "one-sided and party-political" statements and was "part of a systematic campaign" by the CDU against the Left, as stated in the application for an interim injunction. The Germany editorial network also reported on this.
The Left hopes for a decision from the Constitutional Court
The Left was clearly the strongest force in Berlin in the election to the House of Representatives on September 20th. She is now aiming to form a government. The Left is also taking legal action against other politicians who have accused the party of anti-Semitism and proximity to criminal clans via social media. Some deleted their posts afterwards, others didn't.
From the perspective of the Left, an interim order from the Constitutional Court is necessary to prevent further disruption, especially in the current phase of coalition formation. “There could be irreparable damage to the ongoing formation of a government in Berlin,” it says in the application.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Federal Constitutional Court will partially or completely reject the Left's urgent application, as political statements by ministers are often covered by freedom of expression.
Likely · Within weeks
The Left will continue its legal action against politicians who make accusations against it on social media, particularly in connection with the coalition formation in Berlin.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When will the Federal Constitutional Court decide on the urgent application?
- Will the Instagram video remain online despite the urgent application?
- How could a possible interim order affect the coalition negotiations in Berlin?
