Questions are swirling around the legitimacy of Germany’s snap federal election, with concerns centering on the struggles faced by Germans abroad.
Former Constitutional Court President Hans-Jürgen Papier weighed in on February 24, warning that the electoral process for overseas voters might have breached constitutional principles of equality. Speaking with Berlin Zeitung, he pointed out potential legal flaws in how the election was handled.
Adding to the controversy, both the Liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) raised doubts about election fairness after failing to clear the 5% threshold needed for Bundestag representation.
Even before votes were cast, frustrations mounted among expatriates. German Ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, took to social media on February 24, venting his frustration about missing postal ballot documents. “No Wahlunterlagen [voting document] arrived at my place in London!” he posted on X, criticizing tight deadlines and excessive bureaucracy that prevented many abroad from voting.
Calling for urgent reform, Berger stressed the need for a smoother, more accessible process to ensure all Germans can exercise their democratic rights.
