ON
🔍Log in
← Back to feed
Red-green-red schnapps idea - Kai Wegner: the right to vote for all is not feasible
Germany🏛️ PoliticsLean Conservative12 hr. ago

Red-green-red schnapps idea - Kai Wegner: the right to vote for all is not feasible

Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner of the CDU, has stated that the idea of granting voting rights to all foreigners after five years of residence in Germany, proposed by the Left Party, Greens, and SPD, is not feasible. He argues that voting rights are fundamentally tied to German citizenship and that the Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 1990 that states cannot introduce universal foreign voting rights. Implementing such a change would require altering the Basic Law with two-thirds majorities in both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, which Wegner says is unlikely. Additionally, the Berlin state constitution defines the electorate as Germans residing in Berlin, further complicating any changes.

Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner, has dismissed the proposal by the potential coalition of the Left Party, Greens, and SPD, known as Rot-Grün-Rot, to grant voting rights to non-citizens after five years of residence as unfeasible. Wegner stated on Facebook that the right to vote is fundamentally tied to German citizenship and cannot be altered at will. He cited the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling from 1990, which prohibits states from introducing general voting rights for foreigners. The proposed plan, outlined in a joint policy paper released last Saturday, aims to extend active and passive voting rights to all individuals residing in Germany for five years on both municipal and state levels. According to Wegner, implementing such a change would require altering the Basic Law with two-thirds majorities in the Bundestag and Bundesrat, a scenario he considers unlikely. Even if achieved, constitutional questions would remain unresolved. The CDU, he noted, would never approve such a move. The Berlin State Constitution currently defines the electorate as “the totality of Germans residing in Berlin,” with power exercised through elections and referendums. Any modification to this framework would necessitate a constitutional amendment, requiring another two-thirds majority. This presents a significant barrier to the proposed changes. The coalition partners have emphasized their commitment to expanding voting rights within their areas of competence. However, legal and procedural hurdles appear formidable. Wegner’s stance highlights the complexity of aligning local ambitions with national constitutional constraints.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Cicero logoCiceroIndependentCenter12 hr. ago
Red-green-red schnapps idea - Kai Wegner: the right to vote for all is not feasible

Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner of the CDU, has stated that the idea of granting voting rights to all foreigners after five years of residence in Germany, proposed by the Left Party, Greens, and SPD, is not feasible. He argues that voting rights are fundamentally tied to German citizenship and that the Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 1990 that states cannot introduce universal foreign voting rights. Implementing such a change would require altering the Basic Law with two-thirds majorities in both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, which Wegner says is unlikely. Additionally, the Berlin state constitution defines the electorate as Germans residing in Berlin, further complicating any changes.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Kai Wegner’s arguments against expanding voting rights to non-citizens in a balanced manner, citing legal precedents and constitutional constraints. It does not favor one side over the other but explains the positions of both Wegner and the proposed coalition parties. The tone,措

Junge Freiheit logoJunge FreiheitIndependentConservative2 days ago
How the Red-Green-Red Party is creating a new electorate in Berlin

The article discusses a coalition proposal (Sondierungspapier) by the Red-Green-Red alliance (likely SPD, Greens, and Left Party) for Berlin, which aims to reshape the city's governance and policies. The author, Frank Hauke, criticizes the plan, warning that it would drastically change Berlin, potentially reducing the influence of landlords and increasing the presence of foreigners. The piece presents the coalition's intentions but frames them negatively, emphasizing concerns about the proposed changes' impact on the city's identity and structure.

Bias read (Conservative): The article uses alarmist language ('destroy Berlin,' 'new electorate') and focuses on negative outcomes of the coalition's proposals, such as reduced landlord power and increased foreign population. It does not present balanced perspectives or counterarguments, suggesting a clear ideological stance

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories

Threats to Jewish students after AfD blockade at memorial

Threats to Jewish students after AfD blockade at memorial

Center8 sources6 hr. ago
Andreas Bovenschulte, SPD mayor, criticizes equating the Left Party and the AfD

Andreas Bovenschulte, SPD mayor, criticizes equating the Left Party and the AfD

Lean Progressive3 sources5 hr. ago
Pictures from France should be a warning to us Giffey criticizes plans for foreigners' voting rights

Pictures from France should be a warning to us Giffey criticizes plans for foreigners' voting rights

Center2 sources9 hr. ago
Berlin's fear of red, green and red - the number one topic of discussion at the Billion Summit

Berlin's fear of red, green and red - the number one topic of discussion at the Billion Summit

Lean Conservative3 sources16 hr. ago
If expropriation is avoided: CDU Economic Council: More than 200,000 new apartments in Berlin possible

If expropriation is avoided: CDU Economic Council: More than 200,000 new apartments in Berlin possible

Center3 sourcesyesterday
You won't be able to vote at the polls on October 11th? Expiry of the time limits for alternatives

You won't be able to vote at the polls on October 11th? Expiry of the time limits for alternatives

Center3 sources14 days ago