Berliner Economic Senator and former SPD State Chair Franziska Giffey has sharply criticized the proposal to grant the right to vote in Berlin to all individuals who have lived in Germany for a minimum of five years. Giffey stated in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (Wednesday edition) that, for now, the right to vote at the state level should remain reserved for German citizens, as it constitutes an “important good” for democracy. She believes that the unconditional expansion of active and passive voting rights to include all residents after five years of residence contradicts the basic constitutional principles of the state.
Giffey proposed strict conditions for those who should be granted voting rights, demanding that they must master the German language and demonstrate their commitment to the liberal and democratic constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany. While she herself felt great satisfaction in integrating around 3,000 people as a district mayor in Neukölln, she stressed that the proposed sweeping change goes too far. From her perspective, there is a risk that both the extremes-on the left and the right-could gain further strength. She cited the shocking images from France as a cautionary warning.
Separately, regarding political processes, Giffey maintains that a mandatory SPD member vote on the coalition agreement is inevitable due to its fundamental importance. “Government formation in Berlin is a turning point for the SPD. Such a decision must be supported by the breadth of our members,” she said, calling clearly for all members of the Berlin SPD to vote on the coalition contract. She also insisted that the negotiations must place much greater emphasis than before on how the desires and promises can be financed within a budget that fundamentally requires cuts.
This proposal to expand voting rights to all residents who have lived in Germany for at least five years was originally agreed upon by the Left, the Greens, and the SPD in their preliminary document, which forms the basis for the planned coalition negotiations. This expansion could potentially impact up to 600,000 people in Berlin as new eligible voters.
