“Give the AfD the opportunity” – Greens criticize Juli Zeh for resignation

The Brandenburg Greens have criticized the resignation of the writer Juli Zeh as Brandenburg's constitutional judge as “irresponsible”. “We are disappointed with Juli Zeh,” said state chairman Clemens Rostock on Thursday in Potsdam. “By withdrawing, she is giving the AfD the opportunity to exploit its blocking minority in appointing the Constitutional Court.”

Zeh was originally elected by the state parliament with a two-thirds majority in December 2018 at the suggestion of the SPD and was sworn in as a constitutional judge at the end of January 2019. Her regular term of office ends in 2029. The 52-year-old cited her professional obligations as a writer and the associated high workload as the reason for her early resignation.

“Professional overload deserves understanding,” explained Rostock. However, such an abrupt withdrawal requires an explanation that also takes the political consequences seriously. “As a lawyer, Juli Zeh must have known what trouble she was getting Brandenburg into,” he said. As a constitutional judge, she has a special responsibility for the country. “Your actions do not live up to this responsibility.”

Since the AfD has more than a third of the seats in the Brandenburg state parliament, it has a so-called blocking minority. This becomes relevant for decisions that require a two-thirds majority. This also includes the election of new judges at the State Constitutional Court.

AfD nominates its own candidate

On Wednesday, the Brandenburg AfD regional association had already referred to the AfD's right to propose proposals as the strongest opposition faction and announced that it would nominate a candidate. The party expects “that the other factions respect the democratic decision of the people of Brandenburg”.