Heribert Prantl
Born in 1953, lawyer and journalist Heribert Prantl writes for Süddeutsche Zeitung. An ardent advocate of liberalism, open borders and the rule of law, he has been in charge of the Munich daily's home desk since 1995. His op-ed pieces, essays and books have won him several awards. At one ceremony, former chancellor Gerhard Schröder described him as "the third chamber of the Constitutional Court.".
Updated: 3 March 2010
The German Constitutional Court has validated the Eurozone's support mechanisms, but ultimately, if Europe really wants to get organized, the Federal Constitution will have to be rewritten and approved by the people, warns columnist Heribert Prantl. 
Twenty-five refugees have just suffocated in the engine room of a boat bound for Italy. Their deaths are not merely another episode in the decades-old refugee crisis along Europe's southern coasts, but are part of the European strategy for deterring asylum-seekers. 
The German Constitutional Court has ordered the immediate deletion of all private telecommunications data stockpiled since 2008 in the fight against terrorism. But whilst civil rights activists are whooping it up, the Süddeutsche Zeitung regrets that the judges missed a golden opportunity to quash the contentious EU counter-terrorism directive. 
Having been elected for a second term in office with the coalition she wants, the Chancellor will now have to take responsibility for her choices, notes Süddeutsche Zeitung. The main stumbling block may be her new coalition partner, who could make her unpopular.