Overview
- The Hessian State Constitutional Court struck down the CDU–SPD move to the d’Hondt formula, ruling it unconstitutional because it would disadvantage smaller parties.
- Hare‑Niemeyer will again determine seat allocation in the 15 March municipal elections after the court’s decision.
- The interior minister said election systems already support the method and that voting can proceed without problems, a view echoed by SPD leadership.
- Municipalities and IT provider ekom21 are updating configurations and repeating tests, with Frankfurt citing extra workload but no anticipated complications.
- Opposition and small parties, including the FDP that brought the case, welcomed the ruling as a win for democratic plurality, while some CDU figures called the timing challenging.