Germany's Top Court Scraps Electoral Change Harming Small Parties

Germany's top court has nullified an electoral reform harming smaller parties, but approved a Bundestag reduction to 630 seats. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition aimed to abolish a 5% threshold exception, which was ruled partly unconstitutional. The CSU and Left party benefit from the exception, maintaining their parliamentary presence.

Germany's top court has nullified a reform that would have disadvantaged smaller parties in parliamentary elections, marking a significant judicial intervention. The court did, however, uphold changes aimed at reducing the Bundestag's size.

The contested law, proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, intended to abolish a key exception to the 5% electoral threshold. This exception currently allows parties that win in at least three constituencies to enter parliament, even if they fall below the 5% vote threshold. Judges found this proposed change partly unconstitutional.

Opposition parties, the Christian Social Union and the Left party, both leverage this exception. The court's ruling ensures the exception remains, compelling the government to consider modifications.

(With inputs from agencies.)