German Bundestag criticized for slow processing of election appeals

Former Federal Constitutional Court president Hugo Müller‑Vogg has argued for the abolition of Germany’s five‑percent electoral threshold, saying that even the smallest interest groups should be represented in the Bundestag. Critics note that such a change could make coalition building more difficult.

The Federal Constitutional Court’s Second Senate rebuked the Bundestag for its sluggish handling of election‑related appeals concerning the 2025 federal election. After 15 months, the parliament had decided on only 450 of roughly 1,000 submitted objections, far fewer than the 2,000 cases resolved within 14 months after the previous election. While the court dismissed a specific complaint against the five‑percent hurdle, it reminded the legislature of its constitutional duty to conduct timely and effective election reviews.