Signs and Symbols
I have to return to the matter of sec. 86a of the German Criminal Code.
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Vivat Rex
Der neue König ist kein moderner Mann. Und wenn das eine gute Nachricht wäre?
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Rechtslosigkeitsrecht
Jahrelange Unmenschlichkeit, und jetzt zum ersten Mal ein Urteil
Continue reading >>Lawlessness Law
Years of inhuman treatment, and now, for the first time, a judgment
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The Cost of Taking Time
A liberal Minister of Justice, a social-democratic Home Secretary, and the anxious view to Weimar
Continue reading >>Die Kosten des Sich-Zeit-Nehmens
Ein liberaler Justizminister, eine sozialdemokratische Innensenatorin und der bange Blick nach Weimar
Continue reading >>Up Close and Personal
The Private and the Public in the Doepfner Affair
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Nützliche Idioten
Was beschwert ihr euch, werden sie sagen. Ihr wart es doch, die damit angefangen haben.
Continue reading >>Useful Idiots
What are you complaining about, they will say. It was you who started it.
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The Imaged
A Basic-Law Monument and Some Buckets of Ink-Black Paint
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Das Abgebildete
Ein Grundgesetz-Monument und ein paar Kübel tintenschwarze Farbe
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In der Existenz bedroht
"In Ungarn geht es um das Überleben der Demokratie. In Israel geht es um das Überleben Israels."
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An Existential Threat
"In Hungary, it is about the survival of democracy. In Israel, it is about the survival of Israel."
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That’s Just How It’s Built
Raindrops on the Window Pane of the European House
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So ist das halt gebaut
Regentropfen auf der Fensterscheibe des Europäischen Hauses
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Passports and Weapons
Can states be allowed to solve problems with certain citizens by denaturalisation?
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Pässe und Waffen
Kann es Staaten erlaubt sein, Probleme mit bestimmten Staatsangehörigen durch Ausbürgerung zu lösen?
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The Opining State
Artistic freedom, anti-Semitism, and intellectual dispute
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Der meinende Staat
Kunstfreiheit, Antisemitismus und die geistige Auseinandersetzung
Continue reading >>Verfassungsschutz
Rechtswissenschaftliche Graswurzelaufklärung in Israel
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Protecting the Constitution
Legal academic grass-roots enlightenment in Israel
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Trunks, Grass, Creepers
Why the AfD must not get its foundation funded
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Stämme, Gräser, Schlingpflanzen
Warum die AfD kein Geld für ihre Stiftung kriegen darf
Continue reading >>Die Konservative Partei
Liz, Boris und eine Schildkröte namens Archie
Continue reading >>There Shall Be No Censorship
From Congo via Kassel and Hamburg to Indonesia
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Eine Zensur findet nicht statt
Vom Kongo über Kassel und Hamburg nach Indonesien
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Nicht mehr extrem
Eine Unterscheidung, die nichts mehr unterscheidet
Continue reading >>The Ukrainian Wonder
Ukraine will win this war. As a democracy.
Continue reading >>Völlige Autonomie
Ist die deutsche Justiz so unabhängig, wie sie sein sollte?
Continue reading >>In einer Handvoll Staub
Ukraine, Frankreich, die EU und die Begrünung der Ödnis
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In a Handful of Dust
Ukraine, France, the EU, and the Revegetation of the Wasteland
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Klagen können
Sollte der Job der Hüterin der Verträge vergesellschaftet werden?
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Krieg, wie er auch hieße
Wie das russische Recht das Sprechen und das Schweigen formt
Continue reading >>Wanting to Know the Facts
Emily Dische-Becker, the FAZ, the Hizbullah, and the truth
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Die Fakten wissen wollen
Emily Dische-Becker, die FAZ, die Hizbullah und die Wahrheit
Continue reading >>Generation Action
Über Verzweiflung, Generationenversagen und Hoffnung.
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Pressure Drop
For years, we have been living in a toxic relationship with authoritarian populism. No wonder everyone's so exhausted.
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Druckabfall
Seit Jahren leben wir in einer toxischen Beziehung mit dem autoritären Populismus. Kein Wunder, dass wir alle so erschöpft sind.
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Folgt dem Geld
Warum wir aufhören sollten, von "Euroskeptikern" zu reden
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Slugs of Berlin
Cleaning up after last year's capital election debacle
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Meine Sache
Über Elon Musk, Twitter, den Verfassungsblog und mich
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Instead of an editorial
What has happened over the holidays on Verfassungsblog
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Anstelle eines Editorials
Was über die Feiertage auf dem Verfassungsblog los war
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Wir im Krieg
Es muss unser Ziel bleiben, sagt der Bundeskanzler, dass Russland diesen Krieg nicht gewinnt.
Continue reading >>We at War
It must remain our goal, says the Federal Chancellor, that Russia does not win this war.
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Zwei plus zwei ist vier
Zeit, mal wieder Richter Igor Tuleya das Wort zu erteilen
Continue reading >>Two Plus Two Equals Four
Time to give once again the floor to judge Igor Tuleya
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Diener des Volkes
Eine Show, ein Krieg, ein Grenzstaat und sein Präsident.
Continue reading >>A Terrible Crime
International law, it is often said, has lost its normative power. The opposite is true.
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Ein furchtbares Verbrechen
Das Völkerrecht, heißt es oft, hat seine normative Kraft verloren. Das Gegenteil ist der Fall.
Continue reading >>Wer wir sind
Identitätskontrolle durch den Europäischen Gerichtshof
Continue reading >>Who is violating whom
Even the curtest decision from Karlsruhe may contain a message
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Wer wem Gewalt antut
Auch die kürzesten Karlsruher Beschlüsse haben manchmal eine Botschaft
Continue reading >>Out of Sync
The Federal Elections may indeed have to be repeated in parts of Berlin. What would that mean?
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Aus dem Takt
Die Bundestagswahl könnte in Teilen von Berlin tatsächlich wiederholt werden müssen. Was würde das bedeuten?
Continue reading >>To Oppose
Freedom of assembly, general orders and boulders thrown by administrative law and hitting constitutional law
Continue reading >>Dagegen sein
Über Versammlungsfreiheit, Allgemeinverfügungen und Felsbrocken, die das Verwaltungsrecht schmeißt und das Verfassungsrecht trifft
Continue reading >>Zuversicht und Vorsicht
Mit etwas Glück wird 2022 ein ganz erfreuliches Jahr
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A Hard Year
A look back on 2021 and the most-read Verfassungsblog posts
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Ein hartes Jahr
Ein Blick zurück auf 2021 und die meistgelesenen Verfassungsblog-Posts
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Outside the Walls
Scholarship, its freedom, its outside, and us
Continue reading >>Bodies and Persons
Liberal conscientious troubles in the pandemic
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Nuts and Bolts
The traffic-light coalition strives to enact another electoral reform within a year - with or without the opposition?
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Schrauben und Bolzen
Die Ampel will im ersten Jahr eine Wahlrechtsreform beschließen – mit oder ohne die Opposition?
Continue reading >>Mehrheit
Das Virus, die Impfung und der Segen des Überstimmtwerdenkönnens.
Continue reading >>Die Schwierigen
Die Geimpften gehen ins Konzert. Die Ungeimpften landen auf der Intensivstation.
Continue reading >>The Difficult
The vaccinated go to the concert, the unvaccinated to intensive care.
Continue reading >>Helden unserer Zeit
Noch steht der Polnische Oberste Gerichtshof. Aber jetzt will die PiS-Regierung die Sache zu Ende bringen.
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Heroes of our Time
The Polish Supreme Court is still standing. But now the PiS government wants to complete the job.
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This is not just another “judicial reform”
Poland, the ECJ, and we in the middle (of the fray)
Continue reading >>Dies ist nicht einfach nur eine “Justizreform”
Polen, die EuGH und wir in der Mitte (oder mittendrin)
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Decision-Making under Uncertainty
Federal emergency brakes, debt brakes and other methods of constitutional speed control.
Continue reading >>Entscheiden unter Unsicherheiten
Bundesnotbremsen, Schuldenbremsen und andere Waschmittel mit gebremstem Schaum
Continue reading >>Nach der Explosion
Die Fallout-Wolke verdunkelt den Himmel über uns, und wo sie sich entladen wird, weiß nur der Wind.
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After the Explosion
The fallout cloud darkens the sky above us, and only the wind knows where it will unload its noxious cargo.
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Die Tür nach draußen
Nur Polen kann Polen aus der EU werfen. Oder drinbehalten.
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Wettstreit und Algorithmus
Wahlen in Deutschland und Amerika. Und in Berlin.
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Nach der Union
Über Mitglieder, Follower und das Gebot innerparteilicher Demokratie.
Continue reading >>After the Union
On members, followers, and the constitutional imperative of inner-party democracy.
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Eigentum ist nicht (nur) privat
Über einen ebenso vergessenen wie faszinierenden Artikel im Grundrechtekatalog des Grundgesetzes
Continue reading >>Property is not (just) private
About one of the least familiar and most fascinating articles within the fundamental rights catalogue of the Grundgesetz
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Solang sie noch am Leben sind
Über Afghanistan, Deutschland und wer wem was schuldig ist
Continue reading >>Lean Authoritarianism
On judicial review and constitutional plumbing
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Lean Authoritarianism
Über justizielle Kontrolle und inkrementelle Verfassungsklempnerei
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Our People
On Afghanistan, Germany, the Foreign and the Interior
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Normale Zeiten
Über Pandemie, Asyl, Afghanistan, Fluchthilfe, Sonnencreme und den Drang, in Ruhe gelassen zu werden
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Normal Times
On the pandemic, asylum, Afghanistan, refugees, sunscreen lotion, and the urge to be left alone
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Openers for Interpretation
On the US Supreme Court and why something needs to be done
Continue reading >>Keine Kompromisse
Über Offensichtliches, Kontroverses und was passiert, wenn sich das "normale Volk" nicht im Spiegelbild der demokratischen Wahl erkennt
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We will not compromise
On the obvious and the controversial and what happens when the "normal people" don't recognise themselves in the mirror of democratic elections
Continue reading >>You are bound
On the law and the force and the possibility of proven murderers walking free
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Du bist gebunden
Über das Recht, die Kraft und die Möglichkeit, dass überführte Mörder frei herumlaufen
Continue reading >>What do I know about Kashmir?
On fear, complacency, and wild, remote regions
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Was weiß ich denn schon über Kaschmir?
Über Angst und Zufriedenheit und wilde, entfernte Gegenden
Continue reading >>After he’s gone
Bibi's fall and how to find back from authoritarian populism to democratic politics
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Wenn er weg ist
Bibis Sturz und wie man aus dem autoritären Populismus in die demokratische Politik zurückfindet
Continue reading >>Borders
On Zittau, environmental impact and what we can get used to and what not
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Grenzen
Über Zittau, Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungen und woran wir uns gewöhnen können und woran nicht
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Dance of Courts
State, federal and EU constitutional law and the emergence of black holes on the legal map of Europe
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Tanz der Gerichte
Länder-, Bundes- und EU-Verfassungsrecht und das Auftauchen von schwarzen Löchern auf der Landkarte Europas
Continue reading >>Three Crises and One Waiver
On patents, pandemics, and old hues on new world maps
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Drei Krisen und ein Waiver
Über Pharmapatente, die WTO und alte Farbtöne auf neuen Corona-Inzidenzweltkarten
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Ok, Boomer
Über Regelkreise, Klimawandel und das Bundesverfassungsgericht
Continue reading >>Ok, Boomer
On control loops, climate change and the Federal Constitutional Court
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Eigentümliches Eigentum
Warum eine substanzielle Vermögensbesteuerung weit weniger verfassungswidrig wäre, als viele glauben
Continue reading >>Improper Property
Why substantial property taxation might be a lot less unconstitutional than many think
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No reason to be gentle
On criticism, respect and the rent cap decision of the Bundesverfassungsgericht
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Kein Anlass zur Schonung
Über Kritik und Respekt und den Mietendeckelbeschluss des Bundesverfassungsgerichts
Continue reading >>Not everyone
On human rights, utopia and who gets to be a member of the European demos and who doesn't
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Nicht jeder Mensch
Über Menschenrechte, Utopien und wer zum Europäischen Demos dazugehört und wer nicht
Continue reading >>Was heißt hier Verzeihung?
Angela Merkel bittet um Entschuldigung. Excuse me?
Continue reading >>What Does Forgiveness Mean Anyway?
Angela Merkel asks for forgiveness. Excuse me?
Continue reading >>On the Creation and the Slaying of Monsters
On paradigm change, generational change, antitrust law, and Amazon
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Vom Schaffen und Erschlagen von Monstern
Über Paradigmenwechsel, Generationswechsel, Kartellrecht und Amazon
Continue reading >>Gewinnen durch Verlieren
Viktor Orbán könnte nächstes Jahr abgewählt werden. Aber das heißt noch lange nicht, dass jemand anders an seiner Stelle regieren kann.
Continue reading >>Winning by Losing
Viktor Orbán could be voted out of office next year. But that does not mean that someone else can govern in his place.
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Wolves and Men
On Henry VIII, Shamima Begum and other novelistic material
Continue reading >>Nicht länger naiv
Hat uns die Erfahrung der Pandemie robuster gemacht?
Continue reading >>Democracy as opposed to what?
On democracy, its opposite, and where to find what and what serves whom
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Demokratie im Gegensatz wozu?
Über Demokratie, ihr Gegenteil und wo was zu finden ist und was wem nützt
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Streng vertraulich
Über geheime Dienste, vertraute Vertrauenspersonen und andere Dinge, über die man nicht laut spricht
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Strictly confidential
On secret services, confident confidants and other matters one shouldn't talk about too loudly
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Was man sieht und was nicht
Über Putins Palast, private Verträge und andere Dinge, die man nicht jeden Tag sieht
Continue reading >>Now you see it, now you don’t
On Putin's palace, private contracts and other matters that one doesn't see every day
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Interpreters of the Constitution
Why the constitutional debate about the Covid measures is different from the "rule of lawlessness" discourse of 2016/18
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Verfassungsinterpreten
Was die verfassungsrechtliche Debatte um die Corona-Maßnahmen vom "Herrschaft-des-Unrechts"-Diskurs 2016/18 unterscheidet
Continue reading >>Press Here to Reset the System
Why removing Trump from an office he no longer holds is a good thing to do
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Drücken Sie hier, um das System zurückzusetzen
Warum die Amtsenthebung von Trump auch ohne Amt geboten ist
Continue reading >>The Mob
On the Trump coup, the constitution and the unity of the nation
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2020: Turning Point
A look back on a most exceptional year and the most-read VB posts in it.
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2020: Zeitenwende
Ein Blick zurück auf ein außergewöhnliches Jahr und die meistgelesenen VB-Posts darin.
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Wenn das das Happy End ist, kann ich bitte noch mal das Unhappy End sehen?
Womöglich haben Ungarn und Polen bereits gewonnen.
Continue reading >>If that’s the happy ending, could I have another look at the unhappy ending, please?
Hungary and Poland seem to have won already.
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Klagen und klagen lassen
Über Mitgliedstaaten, die Mitgliedstaaten verklagen, und andere aktuelle Rechtsstaatlichkeitsthemen
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Sue and Let Sue
On member states taking member states to court, and other topical rule of law affairs
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Liebesgrüße aus Warschau
Warum die polnische Regierung deutsche Jurist_innen umwirbt
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Abgang eines Jahrhundert-Bullshitters
Über Trump, über "On Bullshit" und über Bullshit
Continue reading >>Exit of the Bullshitter of the Century
On Trump, on "On Bullshit", and on Bullshit
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Die große Illusion
Über den Wahlverlierer Trump, Spannungsbögen und den Unterschied zwischen einem Punkt und einem Strich
Continue reading >>The Grand Illusion
On the loser Donald Trump, several arcs of suspense and the difference between a dot and a dash
Continue reading >>Weißglut in Warschau
Warum der Protest gegen das "Abtreibungsurteil" weit mehr ist als nur das
Continue reading >>Livid in Warsaw
Why the protests against the "abortion judgment" are a lot more than just that
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Prophezeiungen, die sich selbst erfüllen
Über rechte und linke Justizpolitik und die liberale Versuchung der Äquidistanz
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Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
On left-wing and right-wing judicial policies and the seductive liberal illusion of equidistance
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The Epochal Failure of the EU Commission
On Judge Beata Morawiec, the rampant sowjetization of the Polish judicial policy, and how it could come to all that.
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Das epochale Versagen der EU-Kommission
Über Richterin Beata Morawiec, die galoppierende Sowjetisierung der polnischen Justizpolitik und wie es so weit kommen konnte.
Continue reading >>Rule of Law as Ideology
On pride, humility and German-American constitutional friendship
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Rule of Law als Ideologie
Über Stolz, Demut und deutsch-amerikanische Verfassungsfreundschaft
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Quo usque tandem, Viktorina
Über Viktor Orbán, den Rechtsstaatlichkeitsbericht und den Unterschied zwischen einem Risiko und einem Schaden
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Quo usque tandem, Viktorina
On Viktor Orbán, the EU Rule of Law Report, and the difference between risk and damage.
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Action and Reaction
On the packing of courts, when one should do it, and when one should not.
Continue reading >>Aktion und Reaktion
Über Court Packing und wann man es lassen sollte. Und wann nicht.
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Thug Life
Über Outlaws, Regierungen und was passiert, wenn die eine sich in das andere verwandelt.
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Thug Life
On outlaws, governments and what happens when one turns into the other.
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At the Margin of Society
On the marginalized, the marginalizers and a false symmetry.
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Am Rand der Gesellschaft
Über Marginalisierer, Marginalisierte und falsche Symmetrien.
Continue reading >>Minority Power
On electoral law, parliamentary law and other nerdy aspects of contemporary German politics.
Continue reading >>Die Macht der Minderheit
Über das Wahlrecht, das Parlamentsrecht und andere Nerdigkeiten des aktuellen Politikgeschehens.
Continue reading >>On Flags, Borders and Crimes
On burning flags, freedom of opinion and why we don't care if foreigners get hit
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Von Flaggen, Grenzen und Strafen
Über Flaggenverbrennung, Meinungsfreiheit und warum uns die so wenig interessiert, wenn es doch nur Ausländer_innen trifft
Continue reading >>Arbitrary and capricious
On dreamers, Trump, the US Supreme Court and the difference between a Rechtsstaat and an authoritarian regime.
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Willkürlich und launenhaft
Über Dreamer, Trump, den US Supreme Court und den Unterschied zwischen einem Rechtsstaat und einem autoritärem Regime.
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Want a law? Draft one
On Berlin, communizing real-estate behemoths and the power to initiate a law
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Wer ein Gesetz begehrt, soll eins entwerfen
Über Berlin, zu verstaatlichende Immobilienkonzerne und die Macht, die dem Recht auf Gesetzesinitiative innewohnt.
Continue reading >>Quis furor, o cives…
On civil rights, civil war and why one should beware of false associations looking at Minneapolis.
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Quis furor, o cives…
Über Bürgerrechte, Bürgerkriege und warum man sich mit Blick auf Minneapolis vor falschen Assoziationen hüten sollte.
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Terrible Order
On Hong Kong, Kompetenz-Kompetenz and the necessity of taking sides.
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Entsetzliche Ordnung
Über Hongkong, Kompetenz-Kompetenz und die Notwendigkeit, sich auf eine Seite zu schlagen.
Continue reading >>Watching the Peacock Dance
Why is Viktor Orbán suddenly making nice with the ECJ and closing the Röszke camp? I don't know. But I have some suspicions.
Continue reading >>
Dem Pfau beim Tanz zusehen
Warum gibt sich Viktor Orbán plötzlich handzahm gegenüber dem EuGH und schließt das Lager Röszke? Das weiß ich auch nicht, habe aber so meine Vermutungen.
Continue reading >>The liberal elite send their regards
On skewed pictures, failed PR campaigns and the ongoing fallout of last week's ultra vires judgment of the Bundesverfassungsgericht.
Continue reading >>
Schönen Gruß von der liberalen Elite
Über schiefe Bilder, schief gegangene PR-Kampagnen und den fortdauernden Fallout des Ultra-Vires-Urteils des Bundesverfassungsgerichts.
Continue reading >>We Super-Europeans
Judges at war? Judges at dance? Or is it just a tragedy? On the FCC ultra vires decision, its fallout and other topics of this eventful week.
Continue reading >>
Wir Super-Europäer
Krieg der Richter? Tanz der Richter? Oder einfach nur ein Trauerspiel? Über eine Woche im Schatten des ominösen PSPP-Urteils aus Karlsruhe.
Continue reading >>We can do it
On Angela Merkel, her crisis management, the tyranny of goals and the difference between both.
Continue reading >>
Wir schaffen das
Über Angela Merkel, ihr Krisenmanagement, die "Tyrannei des Ziels" und den Unterschied zwischen beidem.
Continue reading >>Nichts wie zuvor
Keine Sorge, dies wird nicht die drölfzigste nachdenkliche Betrachtung darüber, [...]
Continue reading >>
Nothing like before
I’m sure you’ve read enough musing reflections on how radically [...]
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Noch lange kein Polizeistaat
Über Autoritäre, Libertäre und was beide in Zeiten der Coronakrise gemeinsam haben.
Continue reading >>Not a Police State just yet
On Authoritarians, Libertarians and what both have in common in these Corona times.
Continue reading >>
Sancta Corona, ora pro nobis
On elevated temperature, breathing troubles and other symptoms of a crisis of constitutional democracy
Continue reading >>
Sancta Corona, ora pro nobis
Über erhöhte Temperatur, Atembeschwerden und andere Krisenzeichen des demokratischen Verfassungsstaates.
Continue reading >>Dearth, Plague and Pestilence
On Corona, Europe and a world in a state of emergency.
Continue reading >>
Teurung, Not und Pestilenz
Über Corona, Europa und eine Welt im Ausnahmezustand.
Continue reading >>So this is what the European Way of Life looks like, huh?
On Greece, Poland, India, Thailand, Armenia, Germany, Europe and Ursula von der Leyen.
Continue reading >>
Das muss er sein, der European Way of Life
Über Griechenland, Polen, Indien, Thailand, Armenien, Deutschland, Europa und Ursula von der Leyen.
Continue reading >>Alive until you aren’t
On Poland, France, UK, Germany, Europe, the World and one great and one less great judgment from Karlsruhe.
Continue reading >>
Lebendig bis zum Schluss
Über Polen, Frankreich, UK, Deutschland, die Welt und ein tolles und ein nicht so tolles Urteil des Zweiten Senats des Bundesverfassungsgerichts.
Continue reading >>
Das Leben der Anderen
Über rechten Terror, Europa, Türkei, Italien und den fetten Bußprediger von Budapest.
Continue reading >>The Life of Others
On right-wing terrorism, Turkey, Strasbourg, Italy and the fat friar of Budapest.
Continue reading >>
Es geht nicht um den Platz am Tisch.
Es geht um den Tisch.
Über Deutschland, UK, Irland, Flüchtlingsschutz und meine ganz persönliche Bitte an Friedrich Merz.
Continue reading >>It’s not about a seat at the table.
It’s about the table.
On Germany, UK, Ireland, refugee protection and a respectful request to Friedrich Merz.
Continue reading >>
This is not a drill
On Thuringia, the US, Poland, Europe and some extremely odd practices in academic publishing.
Continue reading >>Das ist kein Probealarm
Über Thüringen, USA, Polen, Europa und die sonderbaren Praktiken im Wissenschafts-Verlagsbusiness.
Continue reading >>Die EU hat keine Nationalgarde
Über Polen. Andere Länder auch, aber ganz überwiegend über Polen.
Continue reading >>The EU has no National Guard
On Poland. Other places too, but mostly about Poland.
Continue reading >>
Was qualmt denn da so komisch?
Über Polen, Russland und andere "gelenkte Demokratien", UK und andere (noch) nicht gelenkte Demokratien. Und Deutschland. Und Europa. Und, erwähnte ich das schon? natürlich Polen.
Continue reading >>
Have you noticed that burnt smell?
On Poland, Russia and other "guided democracies", the UK and other not (yet) guided democracies. And on Germany. Oh, and have I mentioned Poland? And on Poland.
Continue reading >>Kein Appeasement
Neues aus Russland, Polen, Spanien, Indien, Deutschland und Italien.
Continue reading >>
Möglicherweise Krieg
USA, Iran, Deutschland, Polen, Indien, Chile, Österreich und eine Menge mehr.
Continue reading >>Possibly War
USA, Iran, Germany, Poland, India, Austria, Chile, and a whole lot more
Continue reading >>
2019: a Changed Climate
In which I look back on 2019 and the most-read posts of this year.
Continue reading >>
The Choice of Our Time
In which I worry an awful lot about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Continue reading >>Grassroots growing upwards
In which I have second thoughts about primary elections and their benefit for democracy.
Continue reading >>The Great Repression
In which I welcome Jens Söring, the ,Söring v. United Kingdom' Söring, home after 33 years of imprisonment.
Continue reading >>
Be Aware or Be Next!
In which I call David Law to ask him to explain to me the situation on the ground in Hong Kong.
Continue reading >>
Right-Wing Crits
In which I take issue with the Judicial Power Project.
Continue reading >>Competitors for the Majority
In which I respectfully disagree with the large majority of Ministers of Justice in Germany.
Continue reading >>1989 and me
In which I mostly deplore my lack of curiosity as a 19 year old in rural Upper Bavaria.
Continue reading >>
See you around
On Unions, withdrawals and other matters of potentially paradoxical nature.
Continue reading >>
Closing Loops, Unclosing Loops
On elections in Poland and Hungary and other constitutional matters of hope and despair.
Continue reading >>Getting Rid of Them
On impeaching Trump, sacking BoJo and other matters of constitutional reverie.
Continue reading >>
Not Madness nor Treason
On old English ladies, indigestible lumps and other matters of delight and disgust in constitutional law and policy.
Continue reading >>Without the Benefit of Hindsight
On history being written by the winner and other myths of constitutional and unconstitutional nature.
Continue reading >>A Bug, not a Feature
On empty concepts, blind spots and other matters of constitutional visibility.
Continue reading >>Get on the Istanbul Express
The answer to authoritarian populism are uneasy alliances of different types of political forces loyal to political democracy, however difficult that may seem under quite different political circumstances.
Continue reading >>A Matter of Confidence
On lying without expecting belief and other harbingers of constitutional doom.
Continue reading >>
Brexit as Fate
On Boris, the seven plagues of Brexit and other matters of constitutional myth-making
Continue reading >>
The First Decade
A stroll down memory lane after 10 years of matters constitutional on Verfassungsblog.
Continue reading >>The Bursting of a Constitutional Bubble
On stunts, bluffs, confidence tricks and other mind-boggling matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>A Matter of Intent
On constitutional jurisdiction in the EU and the US and other ways to check or boost the right-wing project.
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Being a Good Dictator is not so Easy
On investigative journalists, homeless people, aberrant academics and other sources of civic unrest and discomfort.
Continue reading >>A Bad Workman Blames His Tools
On caulking walls, laying oxygen pipes and other matters of constitutional craftsmanship
Continue reading >>Lies in Politics
On Boris Johnson, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and other active or passive issues of constitutional truthfulness.
Continue reading >>Talking about the Weather
On young protesters, old constitutions and other matters of epochal significance.
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Constitution without Qualities
On constitutional jubilees, Alexander Gauland and other matters of what works and what doesn't.
Continue reading >>Ranks and Titles
On being a professor, running for MEP and other matters of legal and constitutional entitlement.
Continue reading >>Mine and Your’s
On socialism, libertarianism, constitutionalism and a fellow named Kevin Kühnert.
Continue reading >>Confidence and Trust
On some unexpected ramifications of the judicial independence issue and other constitutional mischief.
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Towards the 8th Decade of the Grundgesetz
On constitutional jubilees, narratives, books and other causes for celebration and concern.
Continue reading >>Special Edition: South of the Border
On one of the world's most rotten constitutions and other things we learned travelling in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Continue reading >>After Defeat
On the hammering of Britain, EU triumph and the danger of excessive constitutional rigidity.
Continue reading >>Towards the Cliff
On Brexit, the Westminster model and other precipitous matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>A Glimpse of the Future?
On Venezuela, Hungary, Poland and other risky but interesting parallels in constitutional law and policy.
Continue reading >>Answering Macron
On politics and constitutional politics and the difference between both.
Continue reading >>The Rules of the Game
On coalitions, conventions and other matters for constitutional pharisees to wrap their head around.
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Our Own People
On stripping Germans from being Germans and other more or less existential matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Points and Vectors
On reasons of last resort, final cigarettes and other matters of constitutional ultimativity.
Continue reading >>Brother’s Keeper
On European judges looking out for one another, and other glad and less glad constitutional tidings.
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Among the Free and Equal
On parity, parties, parliaments and other particularities of the constitutional week that was.
Continue reading >>Minister of Civil Resistance
On law, politics and a fellow named Herbert Kickl.
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As You Like It
On Brexit, the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything and other constitutional and unconstitutional conundra.
Continue reading >>Piercing the Hull
On the rocking of boats, the weathering of storms and other matters of constitutional seafaring.
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A Christmas Wish
On this crazy year of 2018 and how to move on with the Verfassungsblog project.
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This Time it’s Serious
On burning barricades, shifting balances and other riotous matters of constitutionalism.
Continue reading >>Into the Open
On voting for the bad guys, rooting for the good guys and other matters of constitution and compromise.
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Law Rules!
On backpedalling Poles, diesel-guzzling Bavarians and other matters of constitutional pro- and regress.
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Constitutional Metastasis
On Hungarian elections not being exclusively Hungarian and other news from the constitutional cancer ward.
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Constitutionalizing Facebook
On public space, private autonomy and other matters of who owes what sort of justification to whom.
Continue reading >>Confessions of an Ex-Neoliberal
On past mistakes made and future mistakes to be avoided and other matters of constitutional penitence.
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Viewed from Without
On constitutional holism, colliding trains and other matters of constitutional catastrophe.
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A Ghost Story
On the German Reich, Polish judicial reforms and other uncanny phenomena of paraconstitutional law.
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Cakes that Speak
On anti-gay pastry, discrimination darkrooms and other matters of constitutional and unconstitutional confectionery.
Continue reading >>Men Like Them
On frat boys, men of honour and other phenomena of constitutional masculinity.
Continue reading >>The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
On the role of the media and good and bad journalists according to the spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior in Vienna.
Continue reading >>Fool me once
On last-minute delays for Poland, last-ditch attempts to fire Maaßen and other ways of overtaxing our constitutional patience.
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Thanks for the Clarification
On clear lines for Orbán, murky pools for Maaßen and other matters of constitutional translucence and opacity.
Continue reading >>Silence means Dissent
On abstention, abstaining and other ways of staying clear of constitutional and non-constitutional sin.
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Law and Sentiment
On public opinion, private feelings and other sensible and sentimental matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Break from the Break
On the epic fight about Prawo and Sprawiedliwość that is going on in Poland and other estival reasons for constitutional alarm.
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Seven Long Years
On staring into abysses, the passing of time and what we all want to be remembered for.
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What You Did This Summer
On legal entanglement, brotherly love and other matters of constitutional fiction and non-fiction
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Fight these People!
On the need to fight these people, and the need to fight these people. And the need to fight these people.
Continue reading >>Bavarian Curses
On geography in Europe, on the firmness of the ground underneath us and other matters of constitutional disorientation.
Continue reading >>A Tale of Two Unions
On Christian Democrats, Europe and other unifying and disuniting matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Money is Time
On revenues and expenditures and other entries in the constitutional balance sheet.
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Festa della Repubblica
On elevating one government and toppling another and further topsy-turvy matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Hitting the Right Person
On kicking the one and meaning the other and other straight and crooked constitutional shooters.
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Show your Fetish
On superstition, substitution and other super-duper matters constitutional.
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A Hymn to the Rechtsstaat
On the busting of myths, the rottenness of Denmark and other constitutionalist examples of not singing along
Continue reading >>Bavarian Krampf
On the cross, the kippah and other constitutional and unconstitutional uses of religious symbols to make refugees feel bad.
Continue reading >>The Good Thing about Being German
On not bombing Syria, not saving Europe and other con- and destitutional opportunities to feel smug about ourselves.
Continue reading >>To Pick an Argument
About courtesy, courts and other catalysts of constitutional combativeness.
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Piercing the Second Reality
On legal monsters and monstrous lawyers and other gothic tales of contemporary constitutionalism
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Having the Pudding and Eating It
On empty bowls, full mouths and other cases of distitutional crapulence.
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A Whiff of Thuggery
On white papers, dark arts and other matters of different degrees of constitutional shadiness.
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Rise together, fall together
On Turkish coffee, Western spaghetti and other treats and mistreatments of constitutional relevance.
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Italian Conditions
On staying uncompromised, staying neutral and other matters of constitutional purity and putrification.
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Game without Rules
On one-way streets, two-way deals and other matters of constitutional duplicity and triplicity.
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Doors Will Open on the Liberal-Hand Side
On right and left and straight ahead and other matters of constitutional balance or polarization.
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Thank God I am not like other People
On dimly lit butcher shops, federal feelings of being at home and other constitutional non-starters
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The Deed, not the Doer
On populist pluralism, pluralist populism and other dazzling and dizzying matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Project Waterproof
On the weathering of storms, the patching of roofs and other elements of constitutional durability.
Continue reading >>It can happen here
On German militant democracy, Indian militant Supreme Court Justices and other phenomena of pugnacious constitutionalism.
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So much Love
On inter-judicial romance, same-sex love in Romania and other heart-warming matters constitutional.
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Beware the Demogorgon
On mock realities, monsters and other contemporary phenomena of constitutionalism.
Continue reading >>Article 7 and us
On constitutional emergencies and emergency constitutions and other boons and banes of European rule of law.
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Finally a Horizon
Of secular problems, millennial rhetorics and other time-bound and perennial issues of constitutionalism.
Continue reading >>Facing the Music
On blogs like this as "new media", sticking your neck out and other matters more or less constitutional.
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Careful what you Wish for
On minority government and other causes for constitutional redemption fantasies.
Continue reading >>Waiting for Jamaica
On coalition building, feedback loops and other functional and dysfunctional matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>What I would like to ask the AfD
How to discern democratic and undemocratic parties and other tough questions constitutional.
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Schoolyard Bullies
On rights and rightists and other matters of constitutional concern.
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Constitutional Courts in Decline
On losing confidence, gaining independence and other constitutional ups and downs.
Continue reading >>Independence as an Assertion
On Catalonia and… No. It's basically all about Catalonia.
Continue reading >>Where is the Pulse of Europe when it’s needed?
On rebuilding Europe and the resounding silence of the German election results in this and other matters constitutional.
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The Party of the Extreme Normal
On normalitarians in the Bundestag and a number of other more or less worrisome matters constitutional.
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Macron or Juncker
On polarity, voting and whirling about in Angela Merkel's kettle of pragmatism.
Continue reading >>Walking out on us
On Hungary, Catalonia and other domestic or international matters of discontent
Continue reading >>Beyond Dublin
On balls, fields, books and Möbius strips of constitutional and non-constitutional nature.
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Not to play along
On Poland, Spain and others crises constitutional, and how to deal with them.
Continue reading >>Polish Courts are Our Courts
On Erdogan, Böhmermann, Kaczynski and other ticklish constitutional business.
Continue reading >>The Non-Arsonist’s Guide to Constitutionalism
On headscarves, marriage vows, burning Mazdas and other combustible matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Merkel’s Conscience
On conscientious objection as a method of constitutional interpretation and other ways to have the cake and eat it.
Continue reading >>A Great Laugh
On pomp and circumstance and other edifying matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>What Constitutions Endure
On stress tests, emolument and other matters of high constitutional training effect.
Continue reading >>Pushing Borders
On emergencies, Faustian pacts and other diabolical or divine matters constitutional.
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The Hand on the Faucet
On drying out the bad guys and other liquid or solid matters constitutional.
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Red Card for the Red Card
On referees, judges and other partial and impartial matters constitutional
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To Make a Commitment
On same-sex marriage, legislative dawdling and other matters of constitutional joy and dismay.
Continue reading >>Because they say so!
On courts, dogmatists and other matters of constitutional contestation.
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My President, too
On presidents, populists, courts and other constitutional causes for joy and celebration.
Continue reading >>Europe is not a Story
On Orbán, on Europe and on other fictional and factual matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>The Feedback Loop of Power
On Germans being German, ending the disgrace of child marriage and other scandalous matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Dreaming of the User Republic
On hate speech, civic duplicity and other dubious matters constitutional.
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The Outside Within
On Hungary's Soros obsession, diaspora voting rights and other reflexive matters constitutional.
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Charging Bullies
On bullies, brown bears and other furry and fuzzy matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Majority is a Legal Concept
On Dutch populist unpopularity, on the absurdities of autocracy and on other matters constitutional.
Continue reading >>Geert-Victor LePynski, coming to your town too
On EU member states' brazenness and subservience, on the constitutional plans of Le Pen and Wilders and why they matter for all European citizens.
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Constitutional Courts – imagine them gone
On frightened German judges, distressed Polish judges and other newsworthy matters constitutional.
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… yet there is method in’t
On Trump's state of mind, on Poland's latest twist in the Constitutional Tribunal drama, and on other crazy matters constitutional.
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Destitution or Constitution
On Trump and the Courts, on the importance of constitutional review and on other constitutional issues arising on the way into or out of authoritarianism.
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Trump, Taricco, Turks and Tusk
Once again, constitutional orders all over the world are tested to the limit of their endurance…
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Shaking off Constitutional Constraints
Is the seminal Miller decision by the UK Supreme Court good news for British constitutionalism or bad? What does the equally momentous Yukos decision by the Russian Constitutional Court teach us about the state of constitionalism in Russia? And what will become of the rule of law and the balance of powers in Turkey when President Erdogan gets his way with the Turkish constitution?
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Scarves, Slaves and the Nearly Headless NPD
On an incompletely decapitated Neonazi party and other topical matters constitutional.
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Strangers, Adversaries, Enemies
On party bans, on constitutional courts as tools and objects of political pressure, and on the various ways Muslim dress codes for girls and women further the evolution of constitutional law in Europe.
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Us and Them
On racial profiling, on what is part of Europe and what is not, and on apes in cages.
Continue reading >>Cleaning up after 2016
The end of this year of 2016 draws close, and relief about that fact, ill-founded as it may be, is palpable wherever I go. It has been a rough ride for constitutionalists, and we all deserve some days of rest and peace, if we can afford it. Therefore, I will spare you with seasonal reviews and reflections on these almost consistently dreadful twelve months past and highlight only one fact hopefully suitable to lift your spirits a bit: Since Brexit, support for European integration has jumped by 5 percent throughout the EU and by 7 percent in the UK.
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Freedom of Assembly in Poland: Next in Line?
Public protest seems to be the best hope civil society now has in Poland against its increasingly authoritarian government. It would be only consequent that the the next obstacle to their power for the Law and Justice party to dismantle would be the right to freedom of assembly.
Continue reading >>Christmas Showdown in Poland
Something decidedly un-christmasy is going on right now in Poland. On Thursday, I have talked to a person close to the ongoing conflict about the Polish Constitutional Tribunal on the phone, and here is what I have learnt:
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On Dreams and Nightmares
As the "Eurocrat's Dream" has ended, what have we woken up to? Since the very noteworthy collection of essays under title "The End of the Eurocrat's Dream", edited by CHRISTIAN JOERGES, DAMIEN CHALMERS and MARCUS JACHTENFUCHS, has appeared this spring, the waking-life reality in Europe and beyond has taken on a decidedly nightmarish character.
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The Lure of the New Normal
No-one can remain in a constant state of exception, that would be a contradiction in terms. Any emergency that goes on for too long becomes somewhat normal over time. If things refuse to get less terrifying, all we can do is raise our level of terrification, isn't it? Donald Trump will let a White Supremacists' media darling shape his political strategies – but hey: he deserves a chance, right? Austria is weeks away from falling into the hands of the far-right populists, with other European countries lining up behind it – but please, let's not overreact, maybe we are all just out of touch with what ordinary people think and feel?
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Week #1 after Trump
I will not bore you with yet another account of how stunned I still am and how I shake in my booths now and so forth. We all do, I suppose. The world has changed over night, quite literally. And the world we woke up in on Wednesday morning appears to be a far less habitable place for liberal constitutionalists who believe that state and society should respect human dignity, protect the vulnerable, overcome discrimination and impose on their own power those legal restraints that empower them in the first place. How could this happen? What did we do wrong? What can we do now? Shall we stand our ground or adapt?
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CETA, Trump and “Enemies of the People”
What a week… On Thursday, the High Court of Justice [...]
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