A New German Constitution ‘Seems Inevitable’

 

The euro crisis is forcing Germany to consider radical changes to its political system—and could even push Germany to introduce a new constitution.

Senior German politicians from all major parties, including Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, head of the Christian Social Union (csu) Horst Seehofer and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, have called for referenda on Germany’s place in Europe.

As Spiegel Online pointed out August 10, all roads to a referendum seem to lead to a change or complete replacement of Germany’s constitution, or Basic Law. The Basic Law doesn’t give a role for referenda for these kind of decisions. But politicians like Seehofer have suggested that Germany voluntarily change the constitution to require a referendum before giving more powers to Brussels, enlarging the European Union or giving German money to bail out other EU nations.

But Spiegel points out that the more probable path is that Germany will be forced, by the euro crisis, to write a new constitution, and have it voted on by the public.

Many expect the German Constitutional Court to soon announce that Germany has gone as far toward a European superstate as is allowed by the constitution. Spiegel writes that a referendum to endorse a new constitution “seems inevitable.”

Spiegel speculates that this new constitution could be part of a new EU-wide constitution, expanding the powers of European government. Foreign Minister Westerwelle endorsed this idea, saying, “I hope that we have a real European constitution and that there will also be a referendum on it.”

The idea of creating a political union, with more powers concentrated at the EU level, is gaining ground among all the major political parties, with the exception of the csu.

In order to get the German populace to agree to give more power to a central European body—and therefore give more money in bailouts—other nations will have to convince the German people that their money won’t be squandered. When it comes to handing over sovereignty, populations are harder to persuade than politicians. The need for a referendum will ensure that Germany gets its way when Europe is reorganized.

A new constitution could also be a catalyst for great political change. It would throw the way Germany is run wide open to debate. Constitutions are finely balanced documents. Re-writing Germany’s could have huge side effects.

Watch this space closely. The Bible prophesies that Germany will soon undergo a radical political transformation. A new German constitution could help that happen.