Status: 01/09/2023 5:49 p.m
That wasn’t planned, but in five weeks there will be another vote in Berlin. After the breakdown election in 2021, everything should work out this time. A mammoth task for the groaning administration.
Berlin’s SPD chairwoman Franziska Giffey wants to remain governing mayor, while Bettina Jarasch, the Green Senator for the Environment, would like to become one. CDU country chief Kai Wegner is also hoping for the top post in the Red City Hall. When the red-green-red Senate started just a year ago, it was not foreseeable that the next election campaign would come so quickly.
But after the breakdown election in autumn 2021, the capital has to vote again. Five weeks before the repeat date, the election campaign is in full swing. Polls see the SPD, Greens and CDU each at around 20 percent.
Triathlon of old acquaintances
Berlin’s governing mayor Giffey, whose SPD narrowly won the vote in autumn 2021 and has since governed together with the Greens and the Left, is going into the election campaign without making a coalition statement. But with a handful of promises – the “five Bs”: “Building – education – best economy – citizen-friendly administration – Berlin in security”, it says literally in the social democratic election program. It’s still the same as a year and a half ago.
The Greens are betting with top candidate Jarasch still on an “eco-social policy” – but no longer on the election posters completely soaked in party colors, which caused some ridicule at the time.
CDU country chief Wegner also has hopes for the top post in the Red City Hall. Dissatisfaction with the red-green-red Senate is quite high. Most recently, the debate about consequences and responsibility after the New Year’s Eve riots reached the Berlin election campaign.
Because this is a repeat election and not a new one, the parties have to run with the same candidates as in 2021 – with justifiable exceptions. The legislative period continues to end in 2026, so the end is not postponed.
Administration conditionally operational
The repeat election ordered by the state constitutional court bursts in a city that only functions to a limited extent. Queues for passport extensions, birth and death certificates, car registrations – the list of everyday overwork is long. The botched election in September 2021 fits the picture: Berlin was no longer even able to carry out a parliamentary election in such a way that it also stood up to the state constitutional court.
“Serious systemic deficiencies” attested the judges in the capital. In view of the wrong ballot papers, long queues in front of the polling stations and waiting times well after 6 p.m., former mayor Klaus Wowereit (SPD) found Berlin to be “worsely positioned than any district savings bank”.
OSCE examines possible election observation
The red-green-red Senate fears nothing more than another series of breakdowns. Giffey has pledged the elections would be better organized this time. Among other things, significantly more ballot papers, more ballot boxes and more poll workers are planned.
A delegation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is examining in Berlin whether election observation is necessary. This was announced by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and State Returning Officer Stephan Bröchler. Discussions with the Federal Foreign Office, the Berlin authorities, parties and associations are planned for the needs analysis.
“By repeating the elections, we can show that we have learned from our mistakes and that we will regain trust in democracy,” explained Bröchler. “That’s why we want to face the assessment of independent election observers.”
choice as a mammoth task
Pannenstadt Berlin, which is not even able to conduct democratic elections? Kevin Hönicke, SPD city councilor for citizen services in the Lichtenberg district, does not want to accept that as a general rule. As in all of Berlin, the election must also be repeated in his district. He doesn’t see why: “We had a good choice in Lichtenberg. We didn’t have a restaurant closed. Anyone who wanted to vote could vote,” says Hönicke.
The repeat election puts Hönicke and his employees under constant stress: “It’s a mammoth task to repeat an election like this in such a short time. We needed poll workers and polling stations. All polling stations had to be inspected. They had to be larger than last time, so that it will be enough this time. We needed staff for this. That’s why we closed one of four citizens’ offices.”
As a result, the already agreed appointments of 3400 citizens had to be relocated. The new election strains the patience of Berliners and, from the point of view of the administration, above all creates work. “We had to draw up an election register again – are the candidates still there? Are they still alive? Are they still in the parties? We have a leftist here who left the party, but he is now running again on the ballot for the left.” , says Hönicke. It is just the repetition of an election that took place about a year and a half ago.
Will Karlsruhe cancel the Berlin elections?
Hönicke finds himself in a somewhat schizophrenic situation. On the one hand he has to organize the repeat election, on the other hand he is going to court against the decision that a new vote should also be held in his district – although there have been no serious glitches here: “I don’t think it’s right to repeat an election that was carried out correctly.”
Together with 42 other members of parliament, politicians and citizens, he still wants to stop the repeat election – before the Federal Constitutional Court. So it is possible that all the effort could have been in vain.
It is not yet clear when Karlsruhe will make a decision. At the moment, the judges have not even accepted the lawsuit. While voters in Berlin are already voting by post, it is not even clear whether the election will take place officially.
New choice, new failure
The first breakdown is already there. In the election notification, which was also sent out in English, September 12 is mentioned as the election date at one point – instead of February 12. Hönicke is not amused: “The whole world is now watching the election in Berlin. I hope that’s the last mistake.” Many Berliners probably hope so too.