Rule of law Germany
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Out of sight, out of mind? The rule of law in Germany’s elections and its impact on the EU

10:00 to 11:00 CEST on 24 September 2021

As Germans prepare to vote for their federal parliament on 26 September, the rule of law has been largely absent from the public debate.

This doesn’t mean that the topic isn’t directly relevant to Germany, both in terms of internal challenges and for the country’s standing in the European Union. An issue raised previously by European institutions became a campaign problem: the independence of prosecutors and the government’s ability to instruct them.

Moreover, Germany’s position towards Hungary and Poland, two countries where the rule of law is under constant attack, carries great weight across the EU. However, the broader European context of Germany’s role has also not appeared in the public debate.

What challenges lay in wait when it comes to the rule of law in Germany? How will a change in the political landscape in Germany impact these issues?

We explored these issues with our panellists:

  • Dr Thu Nguyen, Policy Fellow for EU Institutions and Democracy, Jacques Delors Centre
  • Michael Meyer-Resende, Executive Director, Democracy Reporting International

The event was moderated by Hans Felber-Charbonneau, Communications Coordinator at Democracy Reporting International.

You can view the full event below. For the most important information on the German elections and the rule of law at a glance, check out our overview and download the pdf version including hyperlinks below.


Documents

At a glance - Germany elections and the rule of law Download

This work is supported by

Stiftung Mercator