Election breakdowns in Berlin: our democracy was negligently damaged

There were indications of impending election chaos in Berlin – but the capital has remained true to its reputation as a breakdown metropolis. That harms democracy – and calls for an independent review.

That was a glitch. The super choice became the super mishap. Only one thing worked: the capital has remained true to its reputation: it cannot manage. First of all, respect for the more than 30,000 election workers. They tried to save what could no longer be saved.

Since August there have been clear indications behind the scenes of impending election chaos. Neither the pandemic nor the marathon came as a surprise. Enough reasons to prepare particularly well for election day. The election ended in chaos – with self-copied ballot papers, closed polling stations.

Responsibility is shifted back and forth

After the disaster, responsibility is now shifting back and forth between the country and the counties. So great is the despair. Red-Red-Green has ruled this city for the past five years. Last Sunday we saw what has become of the jointly announced administrative reform. And since today a new edition of this coalition is being explored.

Now we are counting and counting again, and we will only know the official final result in the middle of the month. It would therefore be cheap to call for new elections today. But how big is the breakdown? Are we talking about hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of votes that couldn’t be properly cast?

No overview – even five days later

Five days after the election, nobody has an overview of the breakdown metropolis. Our democracy has been negligently damaged. This will have an impact: for those who had to wait forever in the polling stations, and especially for those who disregard democracy anyway. Now it has to be painstakingly repaired, democracy: by counting, counting again and, please, by an independent review. This is exactly why our democracy has a safety net. In Berlin it is the Constitutional Court.

And yes, this was not about a distant country, but about our capital.