Non-EU citizens to get local votes should SPD form government
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 8 Aug, 2009 CET.
Updated: Sat 8 Aug 2009 12:28 CET
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) says it will allow non-EU foreigners to vote in local elections should it win September’s election – opening the polls to Americans and Russians, as well as the country's large Turkish population.
Thomas Oppermann, head of the SPD parliamentary party, told the BZ am Sonntag newspaper said the party had drawn up plans to enable non-EU citizens who had lived in Germany for more than six years to be able to vote in the local elections.
“Whoever has legally lived for a minimum of six years in Germany, can then for example vote in municipal elections as a Turk or Russian in Berlin,” he said.
The paper says around seven million foreigners live in Germany, but is not clear how many of these would qualify.
Comments
See Also
Thomas Oppermann, head of the SPD parliamentary party, told the BZ am Sonntag newspaper said the party had drawn up plans to enable non-EU citizens who had lived in Germany for more than six years to be able to vote in the local elections.
“Whoever has legally lived for a minimum of six years in Germany, can then for example vote in municipal elections as a Turk or Russian in Berlin,” he said.
The paper says around seven million foreigners live in Germany, but is not clear how many of these would qualify.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.