Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt has become the center of a political controversy after requesting her son's exemption from school just before the winter break to accommodate a family vacation. According to German school regulations, students can only be excused in exceptional circumstances constituting genuine personal hardship. The Education Ministry, also led by a Left Party official, stated the exemption should not have been granted.

Bernhardt claims she followed proper procedures and justified the request by explaining the family could not vacation together during summer holidays. However, her attempt to justify the decision was undermined when she posted about a canceled flight on WhatsApp, drawing further public criticism.

The incident has sparked widespread debate about whether government officials should be subject to the same rules as ordinary citizens, particularly regarding regulations designed to ensure equal treatment. Social media users have expressed considerable criticism of her actions, viewing them as an inappropriate use of her ministerial position to circumvent standard school attendance rules.