Your chance to have a say in Munich's municipal affairs
What are you doing in the week of May 3 to 9, 2004? Nothing? Good, because this is one week when you definitely ought to be in town. Once every six years foreign residents have the chance to take an active part in Munich’s city politics by participating in the elections (Wahlen) of the foreigners’ advisory council (Ausländerbeirat). In spring next year anyone—the few exceptions are listed below—with a foreign passport who is over 18 and has been living in Munich for more than six months will have the opportunity to go to the ballot box. The foreigners’ advisory council was created in 1974 with the aim of improving relations between Münchner and foreign residents. It represents the interests of Munich’s non-German residents at the city council (Stadtrat). The relationship between the foreigners’ advisory council and the city council and administration is reciprocal: the advisory council can make demands (Forderungen), submit recommendations (Empfehlungen) or file an application (Antrag) with the city authorities on matters that will improve the lives of foreign residents—this covers education (Erziehung), residence permits (Aufenthaltserlaubnisse), problems of discrimination (Diskriminierung) and intercultural events (interkulturelle Veranstaltungen). The city council, on the other hand, must consult the advisory council on any policy issues that might affect foreigners. Until the early 1990s members of the foreigners’ advisory council were nominated by trade unions (Gewerkschaften), churches (Kirchen) and other organizations. Then, in 1991, the first direct elections were held and 40 council members (Mitglieder) were elected for a six-year term. If you wish to be elected to the foreigners’ advisory council yourself, you must fulfill the following criteria: you need to have been registered in Munich for the past six months and be nominated on a list (Liste). Such lists used to be created by organizations such as charities (Wohltätigkeitsorganisationen), trade unions or political groups, but today “free” lists can be established by any individual or group—eight seats will be reserved for minorities from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The submission (Einreichung) for candidates must be made between January 12 and March 16, 2004, at the city electoral office (Wahlamt), Ruppertstrasse 11, Tel. (089) 233 441 11. This and other details of the election will be posted on the Website of the foreigners’ advisory council: www.auslaenderbeirat-muenchen.de. There are currently more than 280,000 foreigners in Munich and most will be eligible to vote (wahlberechtigt), including those with dual citizenship (doppelte Staatsangehörigkeit) and anyone who has taken German nationality since May 9, 1998. Not eligible are asylum seekers (Asylbewerber) and people working for the government of their home country, such as consulate employees. You will automatically be notified of your right to vote by mail. If you do not receive a voting form contact the electoral office. The polling stations (Wahllokale) will be open for a whole week at different locations—so there is absolutely no excuse not to go. Once at the polling station you may cast up to 40 votes. These can be distributed among candidates from different lists, but you can give a single candidate no more than three of your votes. The 40 elected seats are then allocated among the various lists in proportion to the votes they receive. Turnout for the 1997 election was only around 10 percent, which is pretty paltry considering that the Ausländerbeirat is there to represent our interests. MUNICH FOUND will be posting the dates in the April 2004 News and Views section.