08 October 2025
The Conviction of Nicolas Sarkozy
France often takes pride in calling itself a Republic. Invoking the Republic has even become a political mantra, repeated across the entire political spectrum. Yet the sheer frequency of these references has emptied the term of much of its meaning. The reactions to Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction suggest that many journalists, politicians, and citizens still struggle to grasp what it truly means to be “republican”. Although the judgment of the Paris Criminal Court is particularly thorough, it has provoked widespread controversy, reopening the enduring debate on political justice in France – while also appearing as a sign of the strengthening of the republican ideal. Continue reading >>
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EU Sanctions and the Mirage of Unanimity
The EU’s sanctions framework is meant to work in two steps: unanimity for decisions defining the Union’s approach to “a particular matter of a geographical or thematic nature” under Article 29 TEU, and qualified majority voting for the necessary measures implementing these decisions under Article 215 TFEU. In reality, the two steps are collapsed into one, which magnifies the leverage of a single veto. This post makes the case for resequencing this practice which would realign decision-making with the Treaties’ design, reduce the risk of impasse, and improve speed and flexibility. Continue reading >>
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Government “Shutdowns” and the U.S. Constitution
In a wearyingly familiar recurrence, parts of the U.S. government shut down last week after Congress failed to approve funding for the new fiscal year. Though bewildering to foreign observers (and many Americans), these government closures reflect important features of the U.S. system of checks and balances. In that sense, they are a sign of constitutional strength rather than weakness, yet this shutdown, like other recent funding lapses, also shows that acute partisan divisions are complicating American governance. Continue reading >>
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07 October 2025
Violence and Constitutional Faith
Charlie Kirk’s murder has become a rallying symbol for Christian nationalists, merging religious martyrdom with state power. With America’s secular constitutional faith collapsing, a politicized church turns sacrifice from love into a license for violence. Under Trump, faith and force converge, raising the specter of civil war in America’s own streets. Continue reading >>
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Stresses and Strains
The European Parliament and the Commission are revising a Framework Agreement governing their mutual relationship. First introduced in 2005, the Agreement sets out how the two institutions intend to manage affairs within the context of their EU treaty-based interdependence. The revised Framework Agreement was agreed on 9 September and has since been formally accepted by the Commission. It now meanders through Parliament for final endorsement. Here I look at the background to the new accord, summarise the main changes, and suggest what it might mean for the Union’s political and legislative processes. Continue reading >>
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Unwavering Loyalty
On 5 August 2025, the Cameroonian Constitutional Council upheld a Resolution made by Cameroon’s elections management body to exclude opposition leader Maurice Kamto from the presidential election scheduled for 12 October 2025. The decision effectively eliminates the strongest opposition contender from the race and was misguided by its narrow formalism. While judicial formalism may, in some cases, be defensible for the sake of certainty and predictability, the Constitutional Council’s selective adherence to it makes its motivation questionable. Continue reading >>
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06 October 2025
Terrorists Cannot be Tried Twice
On September 11, 2025, the CJEU ruled that Spain cannot prosecute an ETA leader for terrorist acts after her prior conviction in France for related offenses activates the ne bis in idem principle. The Court emphasized that “same acts” are defined by materially identical conduct, regardless of differing legal classifications in Member States. This decision highlights the limits of parallel prosecutions under EU law, even in complex cross-border terrorism cases. Continue reading >>
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02 October 2025
Caring for Rights
On August 7, 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its Advisory Opinion OC-31/25, responding to a request submitted by Argentina on the right to care. The Court provided a comprehensive interpretation of the right to care as implicitly embedded in the Convention, connected to other conventional rights, and multifaceted in nature. Care thus becomes an essential component of multiple rights protected by the Convention and binding upon the signing States – implying that soon we might witness the proliferation of respective norms. Continue reading >>
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Wie viel Raum braucht Gerechtigkeit?
Der Anschlag auf den Magdeburger Weihnachtsmarkt, bei dem sechs Menschen starben und hunderte verletzt wurden, führt zu einem Strafprozess von außergewöhnlichem Ausmaß – verhandelt in einer eigens errichteten Leichtbauhalle, die den enormen Sicherheits- und Beteiligungsanforderungen gerecht werden soll. Die die Entscheidung für einen temporären Gerichtsraum wirft Fragen zum Öffentlichkeitsgrundsatz und zur Rolle der Nebenklage auf. Das Verfahren verdeutlicht eindrücklich die Gratwanderung zwischen praktischen Bedürfnissen, Opferschutz und den prozessualen Rechten aller Beteiligten. Continue reading >>
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01 October 2025
Systemic Pathologies
Bulgaria has been marked by worrisome developments pointing to its democratic decline. After the Sofia Court of Appeal upheld the pre-trial detention of the city of Varna’s mayor Blagomir Kotsev, the Supreme Judicial Council refused to apply the six-month limit on Borislav Sarafov’s tenure as acting Prosecutor General. Taken together, these episodes point to a systemic pathology: institutions formally invoke the law, yet interpret it in ways that deprive it of its normative sense. Legality is reduced to form without substance, and no longer protects rights but instead serves as an instrument of institutional self-preservation and control. Continue reading >>
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30 September 2025
Neutralitätsgesetz 2.0
In Berlin ist seit 2005 das sog. „Neutralitätsgesetz“ in Kraft. Spätestens seit das Bundesverfassungsgericht 2015 pauschale Kopftuchverbote für Lehrkräfte an öffentlichen Schulen für mit der Verfassung unvereinbar erklärt hat, steht das Gesetz im offenen Widerspruch zur höchstrichterlichen Rechtsprechung. Die Berliner Regierungskoalition will das Gesetz deshalb „gerichtsfest an die aktuelle Rechtsprechung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts“ anpassen. Doch der nun vorliegende Entwurf bleibt hinter diesem Anspruch zurück. Mehr noch: Aus verfassungsrechtlicher Perspektive spricht vieles dafür, das Neutralitätsgesetz gleich ganz abzuschaffen. Continue reading >>29 September 2025
Ein Gesetz aus der Gesellschaft
Am vergangenen Freitag stellte „Deutsche Wohnen & Co enteignen“ bei einer Pressekonferenz ihren Entwurf für ein Vergesellschaftungsgesetz in Berlin vor, der Bestände von großen Wohnungsunternehmen entprivatisieren und in einem Gesetzesvolksentscheid zur Wahl stellen soll. Die Initiative lädt nun dazu ein, Stellungnahmen und Feedback zum Gesetz abzugeben. Die so ermöglichte offene und demokratische Diskussion über die Wirtschafts- und Eigentumsordnung entspricht dem Grundgesetz und ruft die Öffentlichkeit – insbesondere die Rechtswissenschaft – zur aktiven Teilhabe auf. Continue reading >>A Badge of Dishonour
Calls for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) have become commonplace in British political debate. Reform UK has announced withdrawal as its day one priority, the centre-right Conservative party could be on the brink of adopting exit from the ECHR as a flagship policy, and even some Labour MPs are thinking the unthinkable. Continue reading >>26 September 2025
Ein Straftatbestand verbaler sexueller Belästigung
Die Debatte über einen Straftatbestand der verbalen sexuellen Belästigung folgt bekannten Mustern: Kritiker warnen vor Unbestimmtheit, Bagatellisierung und Verfassungswidrigkeit, während die eigentlichen Schutzinteressen aus dem Blick geraten. Verfassungs- und strafrechtsdogmatisch spricht wenig gegen eine klar begrenzte Norm, die massive verbale Übergriffe sanktioniert und eine reale Schutzlücke schließt. Politisch geht es darum, Frauenrechte nicht gegen andere Gleichheitsanliegen auszuspielen, sondern Sexualautonomie als legitimes Schutzgut strafrechtlich anzuerkennen. Continue reading >>25 September 2025
Public Debt Transparency and Global Public Law
As the world faces an intensifying post-pandemic public debt crisis, demands for increased transparency in external public debt management have grown stronger, especially from international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The 2025 Jubilee Year has reinforced those concerns. Nonetheless, a key question persists: how can transparency be institutionalized as a binding principle instead of just a recommended best practice? A key step towards improving public debt transparency is to analyze it through the lens of constitutional law. Continue reading >>
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Reparationsdarlehen für den Wiederaufbau
Die Debatte um die Finanzierung des Wiederaufbaus der Ukraine hat wieder Fahrt aufgenommen. Am Samstag beriet Brüssel über ein Reparationsdarlehen für die Ukraine, das aus eingefrorenen russischen Vermögenswerten finanziert werden soll. Neben dem Reparationsdarlehen stehen der EU zwei weitere Optionen offen: Beschlagnahme und Konfiskation. Beide stoßen jedoch an völkerrechtliche bzw. praktische Grenzen. Juristisch tragfähig hingegen ist das Reparationsdarlehen, mit dem die EU der Ukraine nicht zuletzt dringend benötigte Mittel bereitstellen kann. Continue reading >>24 September 2025
Untying Ulysses From The Mast
The first months of the new President of the Republic of Poland’s term leave little room for doubt. Karol Nawrocki is not only planning to initiate the adoption of a new constitution by 2030 – he is already changing the current one, adopted in 1997. In light of this political declaration, one might ask: Why does Poland need a new constitution? But the question doesn’t end there. Regarding President Nawrocki’s proposed constitutional changes we must also ask: What kind of constitution does he have in mind, and what does he seek to achieve through the adoption of a new one? Continue reading >>
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Die Kehrseite der Rechtskraft
Fehlurteile lassen sich in Deutschland nur schwer korrigieren. Das Wiederaufnahmeverfahren ist mit hohen Hürden verbunden, wie die Fälle Manfred G. und Josephine R. drastisch zeigen. Zwischen Rechtssicherheit und materieller Gerechtigkeit steht der Gesetzgeber vor der Aufgabe, wirksame Korrekturmechanismen zu schaffen, die verfassungsrechtlichen Vorgaben genügen. Nötig ist nicht nur eine Reform der veralteten Vorschriften, sondern auch eine neue Fehlerkultur, die institutionelle Offenheit und den Mut zur Selbstkorrektur einschließt. Continue reading >>23 September 2025
Juristisches Prüfen 2030
Im Jahr 2030 wird Künstliche Intelligenz juristische Standardprobleme weitgehend eigenständig lösen und darstellen können. Ihr Einsatz wird sich in klassischen Hausarbeiten faktisch nicht unterbinden lassen. In ihrer jetzigen Form laufen sie Gefahr, bloße „Prompt-Wettbewerbe“ zu werden, die sich mit Blick auf das Eigenständigkeitserfordernis in den geltenden Prüfungsordnungen zudem in einer rechtlichen Grauzone bewegen. Der Lerneffekt wie auch der Prüfungswert in Bezug auf die juristischen Inhalte werden dadurch erheblich geschmälert. Continue reading >>Is Something Better Than Nothing?
On 11 September 2025, AG Ćapeta delivered her Opinion in Aucrinde, the very first case to reach the Court on the interpretation of the Recast Evidence Regulation since it became applicable in July 2022. While touching upon several issues, one remark stands out: the AG cited the non-fulfilment of the two-step test from criminal judicial cooperation as a reason for the requested court to execute the foreign order. This passage might signal the first migration of the two-step test to civil judicial cooperation, potentially strengthening fundamental rights safeguards, but also carrying risks given its complexity and inherent logic. Continue reading >>
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The Realm of Good Intentions
A recent decision by a Brazilian labour court fined Volkswagen do Brasil approximately US$ 30 million to be paid into a State fund to combat slave labour. This decision was praised on Verfassungsblog by Danielle Pamplona and Hartmut Rank (“historic, consistent, and necessary”). However, I would like to put forward an alternative view, as I believe the decision has two flaws: it does not comply with Brazilian law and lacks practical utility. Continue reading >>
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Die Wehrpflicht ist nicht unwesentlich
Ob künftig ganze Jahrgänge junger Männer ein Jahr Wehrdienst leisten müssen und damit erheblich in ihren Grundrechten beschränkt werden, soll künftig die Bundesregierung durch eine Rechtsverordnung bestimmen können. Dies sieht jedenfalls der Gesetzesentwurf vor, den die Bundesregierung Ende August beschlossen hat. Über das „ob“ der Wehrpflicht kann aber nicht durch die Verwaltung entschieden werden. Das ist Sache des Gesetzgebers. Continue reading >>22 September 2025
Legal Gender Recognition and Free Movement in the EU
Earlier this month, Advocate General Richard de la Tour delivered his Opinion in Shipov, a case before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) dealing with the gender recognition rights of a trans woman who is originally from Bulgaria, where legal gender recognition is generally impossible. Given the conservative position of Bulgarian courts on this issue, the AG opinion could have far-reaching implications for the rights of trans persons in Bulgaria and beyond. Continue reading >>Neutralität als Risiko
In letzter Zeit wurde Neutralität zur Haltung des Staates, der repräsentativen Institutionen deklariert und sogar als Voraussetzung für das demokratische Funktionieren von NGOs und ihrer staatlichen Unterstützung dargestellt. Was auf den ersten Blick als gute Basis einer demokratischen Gesellschaft erscheint, bringt aber eine Verwechslung und Missverständnisse mit sich, die sich aus der Perspektive der Demokratietheorie und politischen Kulturforschung beleuchten lassen. Continue reading >>21 September 2025
Falling Far and Fast
I have been studying and teaching First Amendment law for more than forty years, and in all that time I have been more or less confident that basic minima of freedom of speech would remain unscathed in the United States. It was the one constitutional right that inspired widespread allegiance and agreement. But this week, for the first time, I have become frightened that freedom of speech in America might actually be endangered. Authoritarianism, with its trademark suppression of free political discussion, looms on our horizon. Continue reading >>The Judicial Overhaul Post October 7
In the span of one year, Israel experienced two historic crises: a constitutional crisis triggered by the 2023 judicial overhaul and a national security emergency following Hamas’ October 7 attack. Either event alone could have destabilized democratic institutions, yet their convergence deepened threats to Israel’s liberal democracy. Contrary to the expectations of many Israelis, the security crisis did not halt the judicial reform process. Instead, it served as a smokescreen that enabled the government’s continued pursuit of populist constitutional transformation. Continue reading >>
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Balancing Rent Control and Property Rights
Across major European cities, the housing crisis has moved from warning signs to full-scale emergency. As housing production slowed down and public stock was sold off or left to decay, European governments increasingly turned housing over to market forces. To deal with the stark consequences, governments have responded with a familiar tool: rent control. But these interventions raise complex legal questions. How far can states go in regulating the rental market without infringing upon landlords’ constitutional property rights? And what happens when these laws are tested before the courts? Continue reading >>
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20 September 2025
Neither Reform nor Reconstruction
Contemporary international law is in crisis, but not yet in a systemic crisis. Based on historical experience, therefore, a reconstruction of international law is not to be expected for the time being. In the foreseeable future, the existing system will continue to exist, but in the absence of meaningful reform it will also be further weakened. We must prepare ourselves for a prolonged period of stagnation and even atrophy, a progressive wasting away and marginalisation of norms and institutions built in the past. Continue reading >>
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18 September 2025
The ECJ’s Opportunity to Address the EU’s Climate Mitigation Obligations
The pending EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement raises fundamental questions regarding the Union’s climate mitigation obligations under both EU and international law. Members of the European Parliament are considering a request for an opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the agreement’s compatibility with EU law. Such a review is warranted, as the agreement appears incompatible with the EU’s mitigation duties. Continue reading >>
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Blurring the Divide between Legal and Political Liability
The Thai Constitutional Court removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand, from office due to a scandal involving a leaked phone call. Paetongtarn was accused of carrying out her office “dishonestly” and “unethically”. The suspension order demonstrates the continued judicial encroachment upon the political branch. It also highlights the danger of the 2017 Constitution’s moralistic obsession with unrealistically clean and pure politics. Continue reading >>A Warm Body in the Loop
Brussels has recently signalled a shift in its approach to technology regulation, with a focus on simplification through various Omnibus packages. In the digital context and beyond the stated goal of cutting “red tape,” these packages offer an opportunity to reconsider the foundations of human involvement in regulation across EU legal instruments in the age of AI. This post examines human-AI interaction in EU technology regulation and examines whether such involvement is meaningful or merely symbolic. Continue reading >>
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17 September 2025
Learning From Oppressed Groups How to Resist Silently
"Let me put it bluntly, even at the risk of upsetting some colleagues. Although I do not underestimate the mightiness of the brutal, explicit and covert censorship practices at work in countries like France, Germany, and the United States, while also being aware that some colleagues have preferred to act than to speak out, I have been deeply disappointed by the great majority of my tenured peers who have disturbingly remained silent and passive, thus religiously abiding by the bans and suppression practices in place" Continue reading >>
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Warum ich den KI-Vertragsergänzungen des Beck-Verlags nicht zustimme
Der C.H.Beck-Verlag fordert seine (wissenschaftlichen) Autor:innen seit einiger Zeit dazu auf, einer „Vertragsergänzung zur KI-Nutzung“ zuzustimmen. Diese soll den Umgang mit Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) bei der Textproduktion regeln. Die vom Verlag vorgeschlagenen Änderungen sind aus urheber(vertrags)rechtlicher, wettbewerbspolitischer sowie aus wissenschaftstheoretischer Perspektive problematisch. Man kann den Autor:innen aus der Wissenschaft nur empfehlen, diese KI-Vertragsergänzung nicht zu unterzeichnen. Continue reading >>Demokratie beginnt bei den Jüngsten
Bundeskanzler Merz erklärte kürzlich, der Sozialstaat sei in seiner aktuellen Form „nicht mehr finanzierbar“. Er kritisierte bis zu zehn Prozent Kostenanstieg jährlich, unter anderem in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe. Doch Kürzungen in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe sind rechtsstaatlich riskant, demokratiepolitisch kurzsichtig und haushaltspolitisch nicht angezeigt. Continue reading >>
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16 September 2025
Killing For Show
On September 2 and 15, President Trump ordered the United States Navy to destroy small speed boats in the Caribbean. In both cases, all on board died. International lawyers have uniformly criticized the killings as unlawful. The President and his closest advisers have repeated that they simply do not care whether the killings violated the law. This may well be President Trump's most dangerous assault on the rule of law to date. And, yet, government officials in states long committed to the rule of law at home and abroad have remained largely silent. Continue reading >>
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Der EU Space Act
Der Weltraum ist seit dem „Outer Space Treaty“ von 1967 immer wieder Gegenstand internationaler Regulierung. Am 25. Juni 2025 hat die EU-Kommission ihren Vorschlag für den sog. „EU Space Act“ veröffentlicht. Dieser Beitrag stellt den Vorschlag vor und beleuchtet ein zentrales Problem des Rechtsakts: die Ausnahmeregelung für die militärische Nutzung von „Weltraumobjekten“ in der sog. National Security Clause. Continue reading >>
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Null and Void
A judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) from September 4 confirmed that the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs of the Supreme Court in Poland is illegitimate. The ruling not only exposes the collapse of judicial legitimacy at the highest level, but also shows how chaos in the Polish judiciary disrupts the lives of ordinary citizens, with proceedings suspended because higher courts’ judgments are void. For Waldemar Żurek, the new Minister of Justice, it offers a powerful argument to accelerate efforts to restore the rule of law before the political window closes. Continue reading >>
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15 September 2025
Litigating Over Independent Media
Since the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) fully entered into force on August 8, the key question is how far it can go in securing independent media. Beyond transparency rules and safeguards for editorial independence, Article 3 may establish a justiciable right to independent media – enabling individuals to challenge violations of media pluralism before national courts. Continue reading >>
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Bolsonaro’s Conviction
Last week, former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced by the Brazilian Supreme Court to 27 years in prison for orchestrating a conspiracy to stay in power after losing the 2022 election. Some high-ranking military officers involved in the plot also received lighter sentences. Brazil could serve as a lesson to the world about combating authoritarian populism, but the expectation that the decision will restrain the military should be treated with caution. Continue reading >>
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Eingezäunte Freiheit
Die Bundesregierung hat einen Gesetzentwurf vorgelegt, mit dem die Reform des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Asylsystems (GEAS) umgesetzt werden soll. Unter anderem soll die zuständige Behörde in sämtlichen Aufnahmeeinrichtungen die Entscheidung treffen können, dass Geflüchtete diese für bis zu ein Jahr nicht mehr verlassen dürfen. Die Pläne wecken nicht nur Assoziationen an die amerikanische Migrationspolitik, sie sind auch verfassungsrechtlich nicht haltbar. Continue reading >>
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13 September 2025
The Fifth Republic Under Strain
France’s new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu – the fifth since 2022 – faces a task many already call impossible. Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron on September 9, just one day after the Bayrou government fell on a confidence vote, Lecornu must assemble a working majority – or at least prevent a majority coalition against him – to pass the budget by December 31. Continue reading >>
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12 September 2025
Der Ausschluss von AfD-Bürgermeisterkandidaten vor der Wahl
Im August dieses Jahres wurden in Rheinland-Pfalz und Nordrhein-Westfalen zwei AfD-Bürgermeisterkandidaten nicht zur Wahl zugelassen. Die Wahlausschüsse begründeten ihre Entscheidungen mit Zweifeln an der Verfassungstreue der jeweiligen Kandidaten. Beide Ausschlüsse wurden im Nachgang gerichtlich bestätigt. Die Gerichtsentscheidungen sind im Ergebnis zwar gut nachvollziehbar. Sie verdeutlichen jedoch, wie demokratisch sensibel das Thema ist. Continue reading >>Moving towards a SAFE Defense Policy in Europe
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has presented Europe with new challenges regarding security. As a response, the EU adopted the so-called SAFE Regulation in 2025. It is based on Article 122 TFEU and is intended to accelerate efforts to achieve autonomous defense capability. By choosing this legal basis, the Commission continues a trend which begun in the pandemic and was reinforced during the energy crisis: relying on emergency competences without parliamentary involvement. But whether this exceptional provision can legitimize the profound changes facing the Union is doubtful. Continue reading >>
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Wählen heißt Auswählen – aber zwischen Parteien
Matthias Friehe bringt mit seinem Beitrag semantische Klarheit in den von politischer Rhetorik vernebelten Wahlrechtsdiskurs. Er erinnert daran, dass Wählen „Auswählen“ bedeutet: „Jede Wahl setzt voraus, dass die Wähler eine Auswahl treffen können. Dafür ist wiederum erforderlich, dass klare Alternativen bestehen: dies oder das.“ So weit ist ihm ausdrücklich zuzustimmen. Dann aber macht er einen Gegensatz auf, der hinter den bereits erreichten Stand des Wahlrechtsdiskurses zurückfällt. Continue reading >>
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11 September 2025
Isn’t it Ironic?
Since we do believe in the power of sharing personal experiences and in solidarity, we decided to share ours through this symposium as they highlight the different shapes and forms that silencing attempts and chilling effects can take, as well as the salience of solidarity in academia. They further unearth the hidden costs associated with pursuing publication projects that resist topical normalization and try instead to re-open space for important – yet often uncomfortable – conversations in a highly polarized political environment. Continue reading >>
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Wählen heißt Auswählen
Seit der Entscheidung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts von 2008 kommt das Wahlrecht nicht zur Ruhe. Auch Union und SPD haben sich im aktuellen Koalitionsvertrag auf eine erneute Änderung des Bundestagswahlrechts verständigt. Wenn eine solche Reform konsequent darauf ausgerichtet sein soll, den Wählern klare Auswahlalternativen zu eröffnen, bietet ein modifiziertes Grabenwahlrecht eine überzeugende Alternative zur personalisierten Verhältniswahl. Continue reading >>Is the Hungarian Block Really a Legal Issue?
This post engages with the exchange between Spieker and von Bogdandy and Dawson and van den Brink over the Hungarian block in the European Council (EUCO) and Council on CFSP issues. The issue at the heart of this debate is not one of fantasticalness but of formal legal orthodoxy. The Hungarian block is not a legal constitutional issue but a political one; one that has been reinforced by the 30 June 2025 Council decision to extend the sanctions. Accordingly, any suggested response ought to be political rather than legal. Continue reading >>
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10 September 2025
Whose Common Sense?
On September 8, 2025, in the case of Noem v. Vazquez Perdomo, the Supreme Court signaled its support for ICE’s continued use of racial profiling in immigration policing. By staying a lower court’s restraining order, the Court allowed agents once again to stop and arrest people based on how they look, the language they speak, where they live, and the kind of work they do. The closest the Court came to providing reasons for its intervention came in the form of a non-precedential concurrence authored by Justice Kavanaugh. In it, “common sense” is doing the heavy lifting, just as it has in the Court’s immigration policing jurisprudence for decades, at the expense of facts, evidence, and individual rights. Continue reading >>
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The Logic of Domestic Military Deployments
With all the outlandish legal arguments the Trump administration has deployed in the nine months since Inauguration Day, it has been genuinely puzzling that the president hasn’t yet invoked the Insurrection Act. Previously undisclosed facts revealed during the Newsom v. Trump bench trial, however, shed light both on how the motivations for these military deployments are being internalized by the military establishment and why there is not yet demand for invoking provisions of the Insurrection Act. Continue reading >>
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