Political crime in Potsdam: scandal surrounding Judge Brosius-Gersdorf!

Political crime in Potsdam: scandal surrounding Judge Brosius-Gersdorf!

What is driving politics in Potsdam on July 18, 2025? The election committee will decide at 10 a.m. on the candidates for the important mayoral election, which is scheduled to take place on September 21st. Seven people are currently applying, six of them men and one woman.

But the attention is not just on this local election. ÞFrauke Brosius-Gersdorf, a respected professor of public law at the University of Potsdam and SPD candidate, is the focus of the national political debate. Her nomination for the Federal Constitutional Court, together with two other constitutional judges, was recently removed from the Bundestag program by the Union. The reason for this: There are apparently not enough votes for her election, which is further heating up the political mood. These processes are not only difficult for Brosius-Gersdorf personally, but also cast a shadow on federal politics as a whole. As tagesspiegel.de reports, discussions about her person dominate the political climate.

The dispute over the candidacy

Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination is overshadowed by disagreements between the Union and the SPD. These conflicts were recently escalated when the Union expressed reservations against Brosius-Gersdorf, particularly due to allegations of plagiarism in her doctoral thesis. The so-called plagiarism hunters have discovered 23 possible points of suspicion that the Union is using as an argument for its rejection. William Wiese, the SPD parliamentary secretary, described the dynamic as a “smear campaign” that pushes the important status of the office of a constitutional judge into the background. One student expressed concern about the treatment of Brosius-Gersdorf and described the reactions as inappropriate, further inflaming tensions. In a statement supported by many professors, Brosius-Gersdorf is recognized as an integrity and outstanding scientist who would be ideally suited for the position.

At the political level, the situation led to the cancellation of the election of three new constitutional judges in the Bundestag. This decision was made with the votes of the Left, the Greens, the SPD and the Union, while the AfD voted against it. Brandenburg Justice Minister Benjamin Grimm sharply criticized the Union's actions and warned of the consequences for the Federal Constitutional Court. The Greens and the Left also found clear words, describing the removal as irresponsible.

Reactions and consequences

The confrontation is not just limited to Brosius-Gersdorf, but affects all political events. Jens Spahn, chairman of the Union parliamentary group, is accused of having prepared the election unprofessionally. The tense discussions about possible implications and the chaos caused by this situation remain in the room, while political actors regularly question each other in the nomination debate. As rbb24.de notes, the Union's reservations are not only due to the plagiarism allegations, but also to Brosius-Gersdorf's liberal positions on debates such as abortion rights or the Muslim headscarf Civil service.

The developments surrounding Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf's candidacy are a clear indicator of the current political tensions in Germany. It remains exciting to see how this political bouquet will continue to unfold and what role the Potsdam mayoral election will play in it. The coming weeks will show how the various actors will react to this situation and whether it will ultimately be possible to find a common solution.

Find out about the background of this complex matter: swr.de.