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BSW Takes 2025 Election Fight to Germany’s Top Court, Citing Affidavits and Alleged Count Errors

The constitutional court now weighs a nationwide recount bid after the party fell 9,529 votes short of the 5 percent threshold.

Overview

  • BSW filed a 177-page electoral review complaint in Karlsruhe that includes eight sworn statements from voters who say they backed BSW in precincts that officially showed zero votes for the party.
  • The complaint argues ballots were miscounted or confused with the small party Bündnis Deutschland, which posted unusual local spikes despite winning only about 0.2 percent nationwide.
  • The Bundestag’s election review committee and a large parliamentary majority had rejected BSW’s objections and a nationwide recount, with the AfD as the notable dissent.
  • BSW contends a recount could lift it slightly over 5 percent and yield roughly 34–35 seats, which would force a redistribution that could strip the Union–SPD coalition of its majority.
  • Party leaders point to a 1991 court precedent permitting full recounts in very close races with proven errors and say they expect a ruling within months, though the timeline is not fixed.