Germany's Electoral Overhaul: Court Upholds Reform Amid Controversy

Germany's highest court upheld a reform to downsize the Bundestag but struck down a change that the opposition feared could impact their representation. The 2021 national election resulted in a record 736 members in parliament. Parties agreed on reducing this number, but the new rules caused constitutional concerns.

Germany's highest court has upheld a major electoral reform aimed at downsizing the country's increasingly bloated parliament. However, it overturned a planned change that opposition parties feared could hinder their representation in the Bundestag.

The country's last national election in 2021 resulted in a Bundestag with a record 736 members. This has led to a consensus across political parties about the need to reduce the number of lawmakers, but disagreements on how to achieve this persisted. Last year, lawmakers approved a plan by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition to limit the chamber's size to 630 members starting with the next general election in 2025.

The court's decision has left parts of the reform intact but struck down provisions that could have disproportionately affected smaller parties, highlighting ongoing tensions within Germany's electoral system.

(With inputs from agencies.)