Friday November 12th 2021
Harbarth takes over from Vosskuhle
Constitutional Court honors new president
In addition to its 70th anniversary, the Supreme Court is celebrating a new President, Stephan Harbarth. Frank-Walter Steinmeier also appears at the ceremony and in his speech praises the “groundbreaking or even revolutionary” influence of the nation’s highest court.
The Federal Constitutional Court celebrated its change of president with a ceremony in Karlsruhe. Stephan Harbarth took over the office from Andreas Voßkuhle in June 2020, but due to the pandemic, the celebrations were postponed to 2021. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Angela Merkel, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas and the incumbent Federal Council President Bodo Ramelow came to the ceremony in the Badisches Staatstheater.
Steinmeier paid tribute to the work of Vosskuhles and the resigned judge Johannes Masing in a speech. The Federal Constitutional Court is “of fundamental importance for social coexistence” and the realization of freedom and equality, he said. “Karlsruhe decisions shape and shape our liberal constitutional state, our social coexistence – and that to a great extent.”
The fact that the Basic Law also established a constitutional jurisdiction that made fundamental rights enforceable and enforceable against the state, “is an achievement for all citizens,” said Steinmeier. In its 70th anniversary, the Federal Constitutional Court contributed to consolidating the state and the social system.
Some constitutional court decisions were later attached to the label “groundbreaking, groundbreaking or even revolutionary”, said Steinmeier, who spoke of a case law “always in line with the times”. As an example of a far-reaching decision, he cited, among other things, the First Senate’s climate protection judgment from April this year.
The Federal President congratulated Harbarth and the newly appointed Vice President Doris König as well as the new judges Astrid Wallrabenstein and Ines Härtel and wished them “a lucky hand”. He also pointed out that while the selection “may be a political process”, the proceedings ensure that judges remain independent.