Law to re-promulgate the Constitutional Protection Act and to amend other laws

The state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia has voted on a draft law from the state government to re-promulgate the North Rhine-Westphalia Constitutional Protection Act and to change other laws. The draft law provides for a comprehensive revision of the Constitutional Protection Act. The aim is to adapt the work of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to current security threats and to new legal requirements from the Federal Constitutional Court. The authority's powers to obtain information are to be partially expanded, for example when accessing certain data, using modern technical means or monitoring extremist activities. At the same time, additional control mechanisms are being introduced, for example stronger judicial or independent control for particularly intrusive measures. In addition, regulations on cooperation with other authorities, data protection and parliamentary control are being updated. Overall, the law is intended to make the Office for the Protection of the Constitution more effective and at the same time strengthen legal clarity and control. The bill was approved with 102 votes in favour. 68 MPs voted no and there were no abstentions.