Germany is in poor constitution

The Maaßen case is not just a Germany’s business. The affair is also being closely watched abroad. In addition to Chancellor Merkel’s weakness in decision-making, the observers are struck by the poor constitution of the German rule of law.

„The events show the extent to which Merkel is politically weakened,“ writes Le Monde. The Chancellor is more concerned with the survival of her government than with governance.

In Brussels the handling of measures reminds some of the Selmayr case. The powerful German lawyer once was critizised for having leaked confidential talks with British Prime Minister May to the press.

Juncker distanced himself from him – only to promote Selmayr to the position of Secretary General of the EU Commission a few months later. As in the Maaßen case, this happened at lightning speed – and triggered a wave of indignation.

But the core of the affair is also piquant. After all, the issue is nothing less than the protection of the German constitution and the rule of law. Both were obviously not in good hands with Maaßen.

He failed in the NSU affair and in the case of the terrorist Amri. But the political supervision that lay with Merkel and former Interior Minister De Maizière did not work, neither. CSU leader Seehofer is to blame for the fact that he promoted Maaßen  anyway.

So now we have a state secretary who could not (or did not want to) protect the constitution and who was promoted to his new office in a questionable way. Party and power politics take precedence over the rule of law, it seems.

What is certain is that the whole thing comes at a very bad moment. At the same time, EU legal proceedings are underway against Poland and Hungary. How can Merkel explain to her EU colleagues that they deserve punishment, while in Berlin mercy is given to justice?

German schoolmastery has never been beautiful. At this moment it is completely out of place…

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator