Local elections on 14/03/2021

An elite pool of politcal experts have been bold enough to predict the outcome of the local election in Roßddorf on 14/03/2021. Here are their suitable anonymised tips:

In parallel, I have developed blended algorithm which has come up with the following distribution of the votes: CDU 18%, SPD 41%, B90G 17%, WiR 20%, and Denken20 4% Let's see how close the predictions get to the outcome.

BREXIT What it means for Brits living in Germany

On 21 June 2018 British in Germany, cooperating with Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft, organised an event at the British Honorary Consulate in Frankfurt called "BREXIT What it means for Brits living in Germany". There were nearly 200 people present waiting to hear what the Consul General, Rafe Courage and British in Germany would be able to tell us.

After a fairly bland opening statement from the Consul General and a summary of the important work of British in Germany, the meeting was given over to questions and answers. A mixture of very specific question on individual cases and more general attempts to understand the British government's position and plans were asked. There was a moderate amount of appropriate heckling, booing and applause from the floor, and even a vexed "Please, let me finish ..." from the Consul General at one point.

I used the opportunity to ask what confidence we should have in Mrs May's government's support for citizen's rights, pointing out the continuing disenfranchisement of British expatriates and their exclusion from the Brexit referendum. The good news is that we were informed that the Oversees Electors Bill had passed its second reading in the Commons and was now at the Committee stage. This bill would give votes for life to expatriates. You can read Sue Collard's blog on the Bill here. I look forward to following the progress of the Bill, and to the reinstatement of my franchise at the earliest opportunity.

My thanks to British in Germany and Deutsche-Britisch Gesellschaft for organising the meeting, and to the British Honorary Consulate in Frankfurt for hosting. The Consul General was right to attend, but was faced with the unenviable task of representing a poorly defined and poorly communicate government position.

Realisation dawns - just a bit too late

It was interesting to note that, during the run-up to the Brexit (Braustritt/Brortie) referendum there was a certain amount of coverage in the UK press given to the fact that many UK citizens were disenfranchised because they had been living outside the UK for "too long".  There was an attempt to get this position over-ruled, and it failed.  As a result, many UK citizens living and working in the EU were deliberately excluded from deciding the UK's future on the global stage.

This is nothing new. There have been ongoing campaigns to re-establish the franchise for expatriate UK citizens for many years. The International Antidisenfranchisement League has also done its small part in highlighting the ongoing undemocratic and parochial disenfranchisement of expatriate citizens.

The outcome of the referendum is bad for the European ideal, bad for the stability and cooperation it engenders and bad the individual Europeans now facing the prospect of an island neighbour more insular than ever.  The good news is that the media have been prompted by Brexit-fever to highlight the UK's disenfranchisement of a significant part of its potential electorate.

Brexit und die Auswirkungen in Roßorf

Nach dem Vertrag von Maastricht fügte das Gesetz zur Änderung des Grundgesetzes Art. 28 Abs. 1 sodann folgenden Satz 3 bei: „Bei Wahlen in Kreisen und Gemeinden sind auch Personen, die die Staatsangehörigkeit eines Mitgliedstaates der Europäischen Gemeinschaft besitzen, nach Maßgabe von Recht der Europäischen Gemeinschaft wahlberechtigt und wählbar.“

Da das Vereinigte Königreich zur Zeit ein Staat der Europäischen Union ist, mussen dessen Staatsangehörigen bei der Kommunalwahl genau diese Wahlberechtigung und Wählbarkeit genießen.  Und es funktioniert – zuletzt in März 2016 bei der Kommunalwahl in Roßdorf haben zusammen mit vielen anderen EG Bürger auch einige Briten das aktive Wahlrecht ausgeübt. Weiterhin haben sich zwei Briten als Kandidaten aufstellen lassen und sind gewählt worden.

Und jetzt am 23. Juni 2016 haben die Briten ganz knapp für einen Austritt der EG entschieden. Merkwürdig dabei ist, dass die Briten die im Ausland mehr als 15 Jahre gewohnt haben waren dabei nicht Wahlberechtigt.

Die konsequenzen sind klar. Sobald das Vereinigte Königreich endgültig die EG verläßt sind Briten die keine zusätzliche EG Staatsangehörigkeit besitzen nicht mehr EG Bürger, und daher nicht mehr wahlberechtigt und nicht wählbar.  Unsere Britische Gemeindevertreterins freies Mandat verbleibt – sie wird dennoch nachträglich für die Kommunalwahl nicht wählbar werden.  Lass uns sehen, was die Behörden dazu zu sagen haben.

Nix Foreigners' Advisory Committee

This time around there will be no election of a Foreigners' Advisory Committee in Roßdorf.

Although it might seem like a bad day for democracy, it masks a more positive message.  Those foreign residents who have been involved in discussions have made it clear that they already feel adequately represented and that there are no pressing issues that are not already being taken care of by the existing council bodies.

It will be interesting to watch how the influx of refugees and asylum seekers impacts this.  Once registered with the council, they are resident and therefore would be within the scope of the Foreigners' Advisory Committee.

Council promotes information event for election of Foreigners' Advisory Committee

Well done to the local Council.  Gemeinde Roßdorf has taken the trouble to plan and announce an information event about the forthcoming election of a Foreigners' Advisory Committee (Ausländerbeirat).  And after only a very slight nudge they were good enough to make the announcement in German and then in English.

The link to the German version is here:

The link to the English version is here:

I wonder if anyone other than me will turn up.  Here's hoping.

Not-so-general Election

7 May 2015 will mark the General Election in the UK – I will not be voting. 

Disenfranchisement

Despite being a British citizen, born in the UK and having a British passport, I have been disenfranchised by the British state since 2010 and have no right to vote in the UK. 

Right to vote lost whilst living abroad

British citizens living outside the UK are allowed to continue voting in the UK for a maximum of 15 years.  After this point they become disenfranchised, but do maintain their citizenship.
The 15 year period has been shorter and longer and is set at the discretion of Parliament.  The limited period of enfranchisement is intended to reflect a disconnection of overseas elector with the UK.

Contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity ... To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors”.  The UK ratified the ICCPR in 1976, but continues to ignore its commitments to expatriate citizens by disenfranchising them after a 15 year period of non-residence.

If you have the chance to vote, make sure you use it.  If not, don’t bother trying to write to your MP – you haven’t got one.

Local elections coming up soon - April 19

On 19 April we will have both the mayoral election in Roßdorf (for the Bürgermeister) and the election of the leader of the regional parliament (for the Landrat).

According to Article 30 of the Hessische Gemeindeordnung (HGO), Germans and other European Union citizens who are resident in Germany have the right to vote.  Of course, in a truly democratic system nationality would not play a role - all residents would have the same rights.

As this is not yet the case, there are three steps that we can follow:

• encourage those who have not been disenfranchised to use their vote;
• by establishing an Ausländerbeirat give a voice to those who would otherwise be excluded from local and regional decision making;
• lobby for the extension of the franchise for regional and local elections irrespective of nationality.

On the 19 April, for those who can - use your vote.

Phase III - successfully completed

At the meeting of the Roßdorf town council (Gemeindevertretung) on 27 February 2015, the written questions (Anfrage) about the establishment of the foreigners' representation committee (Ausländerbeirat) were duly answered. The written answers follow:

Thanks were expressed for the answers and the positive tone was noted.  As a follow on question, I took the chance to ask how many asylum seekers and refugees would a) be entitle to vote and b) be eligible as candidates at the forthcoming election.  The period of residency required is 3 months and six months respectively and stateless residents are also eligible to take part.  The Mayor agreed to answer off-line, once the figures had been estimated.

I will ask the Mayor if I can join the meeting on 19 March at Roßdorf town hall.

Ausländerbeirat Phase III underway

The next step in the process to establish an Ausländerbeirat (foreigners' advisory council) in Roßdorf is underway. Phase III in the plan is get the council to explain what it plans to do in order to round up enough candidates for the election in November 2015. This is being done via an enquiry (Anfrage) asking the council what steps they plan to take.

Press reports progress

In today's Darmstädter Echo there was a report about the successful attempt to reduce the size of the Ausländerbeirat from 7 to 5.

http://www.echo-online.de/region/darmstadt-dieburg/rossdorf/Nur-noch-fuenf-Kandidaten-noetig;art1298,5641727

Phase II - successfully completed

At the meeting of the Roßdorf town council (Gemeindevertretung) on 14 November 2014, the motion (Antrag) to change the rules (Hauptsatzung) such that 5 rather than 7 candidates are required to set up a foreigners' representation committee (Ausländerbeirat) was unanimously approved.

The next phase (Phase III) in the plan is get the council to explain what it plans to do in order to round up enough candidates for the election in November 2015. This could be via a direct motion (Antrag) instructing the council to set something up, or via an enquiry (Anfrage) asking the council what steps they plan to take.

Phase I complete. Next step Gemeindevertretung

At this evening's meeting of the Main and Finance Committee (HFA) in Roßdorf the motion to change the main rules of the Council (Hauptsatzung) to reduce the number of members required to form the Foreigners' Representation Panel (Ausländerbeirat) from 7 to 5 was carried unanimously.

Next the motion will be presented to the full Council (Gemeindevertreung) where it will be addressed again under agenda item 11a.

The GFRoG Fraktion indicated that they too have a proposal to change the Hauptsatzung, but for an unrelated item concerning the size of the Gemeindevorstand (upper house of the Council).  We may try and find a way to consider the proposals separately, but only make one update to the Hauptsatzung.  Let's see.

First steps in kicking off the Ausländerbeirat

Next year (2015) in November will be the elections for the Ausländerbeirat (foreigners' advisory council) in Roßdorf.  At the last attempt the Council failed to get enough applicants to allow the election to take place.

This time around, in order to make things more productive, the first step will be to try and get the minimum number of candidates reduced from 7 to 5.  As we have around 1400 foreigners in Roßdorf, it should be possible to round up 5 candidates.

The change in the number of candidates needs to be adopted by the Council at its meeting on 14 November.  The Main and Finance Committee (HFA) will debate the change tomorrow 10 November, and make a recommendation to the Council.  The justification of the proposal is phrased like this:

"In § 84 der HGO ist festgelegt, dass in Gemeinden mit mehr als 1000 gemeldeten ausländischen Einwohnern ein Ausländerbeirat einzurichten ist. Laut Verwaltungsbericht I/2014 der Gemeinde Roßdorf, betrug die Zahl der ausländischen Personen in Roßdorf 1371 (Stichtag 30.06.2014).

Da sich bei der letzten Ausländerbeiratswahl nicht genügend Kandidaten gemeldet hatten, schlagen wir vor die Anzahl der Beiratsmitglieder von 7 auf 5 zu reduzieren, um die Hürden für die Einrichtung des Ausländerbeirates zu verringern. Diese Anzahl entspricht einem Verhältnis von einem Beiratsmitglied zu 274 ausländischen Einwohnern. Im Vergleich dazu liegt in der Gemeindevertretung das Verhältnis bei einem Gemeindevertreter zu 398 Einwohnern."

Vösendorf weekend

This weekend we had the chance to visit Vösendorf, Roßdorf's twin town in Austria.

Vösendorf in the calm before the start of the Ortsstraßenfest -
left to right in picture are Winni, Rolf, Steven and Jochen

It was the 23rd Vösendorfer Ortsstraßenfest - and a chance to see how things are done there.

Artikel 116 des Grundgesetzes

Artikel 116 des Grundgesetzes

Hmmm.  Laut Art. 116 des Grundgesetzes ist "vorbehaltlich anderweitiger gesetzlicher Regelung" meine Frau vielleicht Deutsch. 

Ich suche noch die anderweitiger gesetzlicher Regelung.  Mal sehen.

Apathy and ignorance - UK voters fail the PCC elections

UK electorate displayed unprecedented levels of apathy and ignorance at the PCC elections last week

They were the lucky ones.  Despite not having their votes taken from them by the British State, the vast majority of potential votes just couldn't be bothered.  See http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/16/electorate-david-cameron-police-polls

It doesn't matter whether apathy or ignorance are to blame.  At the end of the day, it's up to them ... the public gets what the public votes for.  At least they were in a position to choose not to vote or to spoil their papers.

The merits of elected PCCs and the possibility of the politicisation of the police are important issues.  The disenfranchisement of expatriate UK citizens is a contravention of civil rights.

US Presidential Election - participation is everything

US Presidential Election - participation is everything

Election day is just around the corner and now the obligation is clearly in the hands of the electorate.  Despite the various schemes adopted of late and their potential impact on the demographic composition of the electorate, the voters now have their say.

If you have the right to vote in the presidential election, use that vote.  Use it wisely.

And make sure that as many of those who should be able to vote really get the opportunity.

No vote for police commissioners

No vote for police commissioners

Disenfranchising expatriate citizens is undemocratic, and probably illegal. Although the UK signed up the the ICCPR, thereby guaranteeing citizens' active and passive electoral rights, many expatriate citizens who would otherwise be enfranchised will be excluded from the police commissioners' elections.

Does the British state fear a partisan vote from abroad?  Why should citizens non-resident for 14 years be allowed to vote and those non-resident for longer be prohibited?

Democratic participation in the determination of the upper echelons of the judiciary is a good idea.  But to be meaningful, it needs to be properly democratic, not tuned according to the whims of the government.

If you are allowed to vote, use the opportunity.  More details here

Republicans' initiative leads to disenfranchisement (another view)

The Economist has some comment from the US discussing Republican attempts to disenfranchise the non ID bearing voters.  See http://www.economist.com/blogs/lexington/2012/09/art-voter-turnout

The interesting point is that, as the blogger mentions at the end of the article, this may end up giving a positive edge to the Democratic vote.