On the 75th anniversary of the promulgation of Germany’s de facto constitution, the Basic Law, the leader of the country’s upper house has defended the federal system enshrined in it against criticism. The 16 federal states and the upper house, or Bundesrat, are a counterweight to an overly strong federal government, Bundesrat President Manuela Schwesig said in the chamber on Friday. At the same time, they work constructively on federal legislation. “And that has proved its worth,” said Schwesig, who is also premier of the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. “People often complain a…