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BUNDESVERFASSUNGSGERICHT - 2 BvC 46/19 - IM NAMEN DES VOLKES In dem Verfahren über die Wahlprüfungsbeschwerde 1. der Frau Dr. A…, 2. der Frau W…, 3. der Frau R…, 4. der Frau T…, 5. der Frau W…, 6. der Frau M…, 7. der Frau N…, 8. der Frau K…, 9. der Frau B…, 10. der Frau B…, - Bevollmächtigte: gegen …- den Beschluss des Deutschen Bundestages vom 9. Mai 2019 - WP 224/17 - hat das Bundesverfassungsgericht - Zweiter Senat unter Mitwirkung der Richterinnen und Richter Vizepräsidentin König, Huber, Hermanns, 1/34

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BVerfG, decision of the Second Senate of December 15, 2020

Judgment

Question Presented: Whether the non-parity nomination of candidates for the Bundestag election by the parties constitutes a major electoral error that has a decisive impact on the distribution of seats and the validity of the election.

Alleged Acts: The lack of statutory provisions requiring gender balance when nominating candidates for the elections of the German Bundestag (parliament) resulted in only 29% of all nominees being women, and ultimately a low proportion of female MPs in violation of the fundamental right and principle of equality under Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law and the fundamental right to passive equality under Article 38, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law. This constitutes a major electoral error that has a decisive impact on the distribution of seats and the validity of the election.

Procedural history: Petitioners filed an election review complaint with the German Bundestag on May 9, 2019, which was rejected. On July 9, 2019, petitioners filed a complaint aganist the German Bundestag's decision with the Federal Constitutional Court.

Summary: The Court held that the legislature has the power to enact laws in its areas of competence but is generally not obligated to do so. When the legislature is obliged to do so, it is generally given a wide scope for action. The complainants did not substantiate an exceptional duty with regard to federal electoral law. The decision notably did not indicate that parity acts, if adopted by the legislature, would be unconstitutional.

Conclusion: The Federal Constitutional Court held that the complaint was inadmissible.

Legal Issue(s)

Gender

Applicable Law(s): Basic Law of Germany

Region: Europe and Eurasia

Country: Germany

Language of Decision

German

Court: Constitutional Court

Election Type: Parliamentary

Date of decision: Dec 15, 2020

Geolocation

Latitude: 52.52

Longitude: 13.405

: Geolocation

Primary Documents

cs20201215_2bvc004619.pdf;jsessionid=48BB9560A1FF748F1E8825BC69DF71FA.1_cid377.pdf
german
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