OSCE election observers will not be deployed for the Berlin elections on February 12.
That was the decision made by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe after a delegation had seen the election preparations on site in mid-January. In a report [osce.org] It is said that almost all of the Berlin interlocutors signaled to the delegation that they did not consider election observers necessary or useful.
The delegation notes that the responsible state and district levels are confident that the re-election will be carried out effectively. Based on the recommendations of the “Elections in Berlin” commission of experts, specific changes have been made.
However, the delegation recommends that Berlin talk to the federal government about conducting the elections. Federal elections are regularly observed by the OSCE, state elections never before. In addition, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights emphasizes that it stands ready to help implement OSCE recommendations.
The preliminary delegation was in Berlin from January 9th to 12th and spoke to, among others, Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD), State Returning Officer Stephan Bröchler, the expert commission and several civil society organizations. In mid-January, Bröchler said on rbb24 Inforadio that he wanted election observers. This is “an opportunity to show that Berlin can hold elections”.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) sees the OSCE’s announcement as good news. “That may also be a positive interim result,” she said on Tuesday. “The level of preparation is so good that the OSCE is refraining from doing so.”
Now it must be a question of preparing a smooth election, said Giffey. “This is happening now.” There are many very committed election workers, training is taking place, the necessary materials are being prepared with great logistical effort, postal voting is already underway. “The preparations are going well. We are very confident that we will deliver a technically well-organized election here.”
Giffey pointed out that one or two mistakes sometimes happen with the documents for a good 2.4 million voters for the House of Representatives. “All of these smaller things that are being corrected are not problematic points that are critical for the smooth course of the election.” Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) also made this clear in the Senate on Tuesday.
Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the OSCE itself considered the deployment “not necessary” – we have corrected the wording.