The Federal Chancellery is not required to make documents relating to the „Zeitenwende“ speech, delivered by the then Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the German Bundestag on 27 February 2022, available to the public. This was decided by the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) of Berlin-Brandenburg (Case No.: 12 B 13/24 of 9 October 2026).

The claimant had requested the draft speech and the management documents from three specialist departments of the Federal Chancellery. These concerned the defence budget, investment requirements in the armaments sector and the Federal Government’s report on the fulfilment of NATO targets. The Federal Chancellery had rejected the request because it feared adverse consequences should the information become public. It argued that access to the information was precluded by the need to protect the core area of executive autonomy. The Berlin Administrative Court concurred with this view. The Higher Administrative Court has now upheld the lower court’s decision and dismissed the claimant’s appeal.

The Federal Government has a sphere of initiative, consultation and action that is protected from scrutiny. According to the court’s press release, the disputed draft speech also falls within this core sphere.