Die 'Große Koalition' Als Problem Des Verfassungsrechts ‒ Recht Auf Effektive Opposition vs. Gleichheit Der Abgeordneten (The 'Grand Coalition' as a Challenge to German Constitutional Law – Right to Effective Opposition vs. Equality of Members of Parliament)

Posted: 19 Jun 2016 Last revised: 16 Jun 2019

See all articles by Prof. Dr. Paulina Starski

Prof. Dr. Paulina Starski

University of Graz; Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

Date Written: June 17, 2016

Abstract

German Abstract: Das BVerfG hat jüngst nicht nur einen verfassungsrechtlichen Anspruch auf Einräumung spezifischer Oppositionsfraktionsrechte in Zeiten der „qualifizierten Großen Koalition“ verneint, sondern diesbezüglich dem Grundgesetz in einer Art obiter dictum gar ein Verbot entnommen. Insgesamt scheint sich eine Akzentverschiebung abzuzeichnen: Die Betonung des Schutzes parlamentarischer Opposition weicht einer erhöhten Sensibilität für die Wahrung der Gleichheit von Abgeordneten. Angesichts der Tatsache, dass „Große Koalitionen“ keine Singularität in der bundesrepublikanischen Landschaft darstellen und auch zukünftig nicht an Relevanz verlieren werden, erscheint es geboten, über das Recht auf effektive Opposition unter Berücksichtigung der jüngsten Karlsruher Judikatur zu reflektieren. Eine Auseinandersetzung mit dieser erweist sich auch als Lehrstück in Sachen Grenzen und Möglichkeiten höchstrichterlicher Rechtsfortbildung.

English Abstract: In a recent judgment the Federal Constitutional Court (judgment of 3 May 2016, 2 BvE 4/14) did not only find that the German constitution – Basic Law – does not require to confer specific rights to oppositional parliamentary factions as such in times of the “qualified Grand Coalition” but even asserted that it forbids to grant specific entitlements to oppositional factions. It stressed that “the right to opposition” does not entitle factions but rather each individual member of parliament within the German constitutional system. Each member – regardless of his party or faction membership – may fulfill an oppositional role by making use of minority rights. It appears that the Court’s reasoning has shifted from emphasizing the constitutional duty to protect the opposition towards a stronger sensibility for the equality of members of parliament in general. Since “Grand Coalitions” have not been singular phenomena in Germany’s parliamentary history and are highly unlikely to lose significance in the future, now is the right moment to reflect on the constitutionally enshrined “right to effective opposition” in light of the Federal Constitutional Court’s recent move. Its analysis reveals the limits and possibilities of doctrinal creativity and judicial activism.

Note: Downloadable document is in German.

Keywords: opposition, parliamentary factions, unconstitutional constitutional law, constitutional evolution, right to effective opposition, German Federal Constitutional Court, parliamentary democracy, protection of minorities

Suggested Citation

Starski, Paulina, Die 'Große Koalition' Als Problem Des Verfassungsrechts ‒ Recht Auf Effektive Opposition vs. Gleichheit Der Abgeordneten (The 'Grand Coalition' as a Challenge to German Constitutional Law – Right to Effective Opposition vs. Equality of Members of Parliament) (June 17, 2016). Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law (MPIL) Research Paper No. 2016-15 (to be published in DÖV 2016, xxx)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2797299 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2797299

Paulina Starski (Contact Author)

University of Graz ( email )

Universitaetsstrasse 15 / FE
A-8010 Graz, 8010
Austria

Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law ( email )

Im Neuenheimer Feld 535
69120 Heidelberg, 69120
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.mpil.de/en/pub/institute/personnel/academic-staff/pstarski.cfm

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