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After anonymous allegations of manipulation and conspicuous election results, the postal vote for the Foreigners' Advisory Council in Fulda will be repeated.
Fulda – The city council in Fulda has asked for a… Controversial debate decided to have the postal vote for the Foreigners' Advisory Council election repeated. background are anonymous information about possible irregularities as well as clear differences between ballot box and postal voting results.
Fulda reacts to abnormalities in the election of the foreigners' council
At the center of the allegations is a person who was a member of the Foreigners' Advisory Board at the time. This influenced or put pressure on eligible voters to vote by postal vote for the International Social Democratic List (ISL). At least that's what it says in an anonymous letter that the city of Fulda received and which it forwarded to the public prosecutor's office.
The election audit committee has now recommended by a large majority that postal voting be repeated. Only one SPD member voted against it, reported the chairman of the committee, Hans-Dieter Alt (CDU), during the city council meeting on Monday evening.
Alt viewed the strong differences between ballot box and postal voting results, sometimes more than 50 percentage points, as an indication of irregularities. He later added: “Sometimes you have to have the courage to make a political decision that may not be legally valid. But things can't have been right here.”
Statement from the accused person
The person accused in the anonymous letter rejects the allegations of election interference. She told the Fuldaer Zeitung that she had only been generally informed about the possibility of postal voting; There was no pressure or undue influence.
Regarding another investigation conducted against him by the public prosecutor's office for coercion and attempted bodily harm in a kebab shop, the person said that there had previously been mutual insults that had escalated. Nothing more happened. The following day they had already reconciled; In addition, his counterpart later withdrew his complaint and statement. The incident was also unrelated to the election.
The person had also previously commented on the election review committee. There she had referred the anonymous letter to tensions between the various lists in the Foreigners' Advisory Board. In addition, the Kurdish New Year took place around election day, so this group of people would have voted more by postal vote.
Opposition to AfD amendment: “Frontal attack on democracy”
An amendment from the AfD caused additional controversy. The group also called for a repeat of the postal vote for the city council meeting. Frank Schüssler argued that the postal voting documents for both elections were sent together and that EU citizens could take part in both elections.
This initiative was met with widespread rejection: Szymon Mazur (SPD), for example, spoke of a “frontal attack on democracy”, Emily Rödel (Left) of an undermining of democracy and Michael Grosch (FDP/FW/FGG) said: “You are damaging the institutions here.”
Mazur also firmly rejected a repeat of the Foreigners' Advisory Council election. There are only indications, but no identified irregularities. A repeat election would be a serious interference with the vote. Doubts would have to be in favor of the existing choice.
The CDU, Greens and parts of other factions assessed the situation significantly differently. Patricia Fehrmann, parliamentary group leader of the CDU, emphasized the special importance of fair elections: “Elections are a valuable asset. That's why we have to protect voters.” The existing doubts are significant enough to take a closer look. Whether the evidence is legally sufficient must be clarified separately.
Warnings about interpreting statistical abnormalities as evidence
Marie-Louise Puls, leader of the Green Party, said the decision was by no means easy. “The discrepancies that have emerged are so significant that they require political reactions,” said Puls. A repetition is “not a sign of weakness, but a sign that the committee is capable of acting”.
Ute Riebold (Die PARTEI) found that the allegations and criminal proceedings initiated had the potential to permanently bring the Foreigners' Advisory Council into disrepute. This risk outweighs the impression some voters have that their original choice is not being respected.
However, Volt city councilor Anna Kleespies ensured a change of course. While she had initially spoken out in favor of a repeat, she now pointed out that the abnormalities in the results could have different causes. She also asked the question: “Where are we getting to where anonymous letters are questioning elections in such a way?”
Finally, Dr. In a long speech, Tatevik Mamayanyan (FGG) warned against prematurely interpreting statistical abnormalities as evidence. A higher postal voter turnout could result from mobilization or easier postal voting and is not evidence of manipulation. Democratic engagements should not come under general suspicion.
What's next?
According to the city of Fulda, the decision of the city council will be sent to the affected representatives of the foreigners' advisory board in a timely manner. This delivery begins a one-month period within which both those affected and the Kassel regional council as the responsible supervisory authority can file a lawsuit with the Kassel Administrative Court.
If no lawsuit is filed or the court confirms the decision, it becomes legally binding. Only then must the city council immediately set a date for repeating the postal vote. The repeat election must then be held within four months of becoming legally binding.
The approximately 540 affected postal voters will be informed and will receive new postal voting documents as soon as the election date is set. In principle, the election should be repeated as if the original ballot had taken place properly. This means: election proposals and the electoral roll remain in place. The only exceptions are people who have since died, moved away or are no longer eligible or able to vote.
The AfD amendment was rejected with two abstentions. Only the AfD voted for it. The main motion to repeat the postal vote for the Foreigners' Advisory Council was ultimately accepted with a majority. It remains to be seen whether the decision will stand: the Foreigners' Advisory Board would like to consider the question of whether it would like to file a lawsuit.
