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Germany - 2012

Migrants' political rights - right to vote to national/local elections

Code:
RED95
Key Area:
Political & Civic Participation
Strand(s):
Equality
26/01/2013 - 23:16
Short Answer

Migrants are only entitled to vote if they have acquired the German citizenship. Exempted are EU citizens living in Germany, who have the right to vote in local and European elections (Art 28 (1) Basic Law (GG)).
Qualitative Info

Migrants are only entitled to vote if they have acquired the German citizenship. Exempted are EU citizens living in Germany, who have the right to vote in local and European elections (Art 28 (1) Basic Law (GG)).

The opposition parties have drafted bills in order to amend this provision by expanding the right to vote in local elections also to TCN with permanent residence in Germany. These proposals were discussed in parliament in March 2010, yet not passed as the conservative parties refuse to support such a motion.

Source:

  1. Constitution (Grundgesetz, GG), art. 38, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/gg/gesamt.pdf, Accessed on 11.01.2012.
  2. Federal Electoral Law (Bundeswahlgesetz, BWahlG), art.12 and art. 13, http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bwahlg/gesamt.pdf, Accessed on 11.01.2012.
  3. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Vertrag über die Arbeitsweise der Europäischen Union, AEUV), art. 22, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:FULL:DE:PDF, Accessed on 11.01.2012.
  4. Germany, Bundestag, printed matter 17/1074 (16.03.2010), http://www.demokratie.agaby.de/AKTUELLES.391.0.html, Accessed on 05.10.2012.
  5. Germany, Bundestag, plenary protocol 17/34 (25.03.2010).
Groups affected/interested Migrants
Type (R/D)
Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas Political participation
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