30 July 2026
Wenn Angst Regie führt
Die Jubiläumsausgabe der ZDF-Satiresendung „Die Anstalt“ sollte der wehrhaften Demokratie gewidmet sein. Kurz vor der Ausstrahlung lud das ZDF den Musiker Danger Dan und den Pianisten Igor Levit wieder aus. Als Begründung führte der Sender an, ihr gemeinsamer Song „Keine Angst“ propagiere Selbstjustiz und rufe zu Gewalt auf. Viele sehen darin vor allem einen Fall von Zensur. Das greift zu kurz. Denn wer eine Ausladung mit dem Vorwurf des Gewaltaufrufs rechtfertigt, trifft nicht nur eine Programmentscheidung, sondern ordnet ein Kunstwerk strafrechtlich ein. Continue reading >>
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22 January 2025
On Peru’s Constitutional Crisis
Two hundred years after gaining independence, Peru finds itself in a state of political instability. Over the past six years, the country has had six different presidents — largely due to a persistent power struggle between the Legislative and Executive branches. The ongoing turmoil indicates that Peru finds itself in a constitutional crisis– a crisis that encompasses both the constitutional text, tainted by its authoritarian history, and the political constitution, understood as the actual form of government. Continue reading >>
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18 July 2023
Judges and Organized Crime
Scandalous arrests of judges taking millions in bribes continue to make headlines. For purging the judiciary from corruption, vetting the integrity of judges through internationally supported commissions has become one of the most promising tools. In July 2023, the ECtHR has upheld the dismissal of yet another prominent judge – who had served, both, at the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Albania (Thanza v. Albania). While it is obvious that a judge should be dismissed for engaging in organised crime, this case may be the first in the world to raise another, rather unusual question: Can a judge be dismissed simply for having contact with organised crime, even if he has never committed any offence? Continue reading >>
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