Germany's Top Court Blocks Electoral Reform

Germany's Constitutional Court has rejected a proposed change to the country's electoral system that would have disadvantaged smaller parties. The reform, aimed at abolishing the exception to the 5% rule, was deemed partly unconstitutional. The decision, urged by Bavaria's Christian Social Union and the Left party, preserves the electoral balance.

Germany's top court has dismissed a proposed electoral system reform that would have disadvantaged smaller parties in parliamentary elections, according to a leaked ruling document. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government's plan to abolish an exception to the 5% threshold for parliamentary entry was found partly unconstitutional by Constitutional Court judges.

The court has yet to comment officially, with the ruling set to be announced later on Tuesday. The reform faced challenges from Bavaria's Christian Social Union and the Left party, both significantly affected by the change.

Germany's electoral system, designed post-WWII to avoid parliamentary fragmentation, lets only parties that win 5% of the vote take seats. However, an exception allows parties to gain proportional representation if they win in at least three single-member constituencies. The court ruling found that removing this exception would harm the equal footing of parties.

The Left party, which saw significant benefits by winning three mandates with just 4.9% of the vote, was a key beneficiary. The Christian Social Union, aligned with the Christian Democrats and operating mainly in Bavaria, also benefits. The reform aimed to prevent the Bundestag from growing unwieldy but was ultimately deemed unconstitutional.

Germany's electoral system creates extra seats to maintain proportional representation even when party candidates win individual constituencies. The court's decision underscores the importance of balancing parliamentary representation.

(With inputs from agencies.)