Germany: Last gap filled
- Mehr Demokratie in Berlin worked four years for the introduction of referendums on the local level.
Berlin, being not only the German capital but also one of the 16 states (Länder), has introduced the right to initiate referendums on the lowest level of administration - called districts (Bezirke).
The Citizens of Berlin are the last ones in Germany the get this influential tool to influence local politics. Since the reunification Germany has experienced a triumphal march of direct democracy. Back in 1989 only the state of Baden-Württemberg offered the opportunity. 15 years later only Berlin was missing.
It took Mehr Demokratie four years of tough negotiations, mobilizing public support and lobbying the decision makers to achieve this success. Finally, four out of five parties represented in the Parliament of Berlin (Abgeordnetenhaus, House of Representatives) voted in favour of the proposal: The Social Democrats (SPD), the Socialists (PDS), which are currently forming the state government and two oppositional parties, Greens and Liberals (FDP).
The work was worth doing: The legislation is the most advanced ever introduced by a German Parliament. Only Hamburg and Bavaria have more advanced instruments of direct democracy - they were introduced after successful referendums initiated by Mehr Demokratie.
With its brave decision Berlin´s parliament has closed the last gap of direct democracy on the local level in Germany. The next task of the Mehr Demokratie in Berlin is to encourage and advice people to use this procedure. Furthermore, usage of the new instrument will be monitored.
In other countries the struggle for fair legislation concerning direct democracy continues. In the pioneer state of Baden-Württemberg legislation has been modified slightly by the conservative government. Still, here and elsewhere unnecessary hurdles imposed due to a lack of trust in the citizens block the use of those participation instruments.
