Referendum in Berlin: Wegner calls for direct democracy for everyone!

Referendum in Berlin: Wegner calls for direct democracy for everyone!

There have been exciting developments in Berlin's current political landscape that will keep both citizens and government representatives busy in the coming weeks and months. The head of government Kai Wegner from the CDU is calling for a referendum that could be scheduled in Berlin at short notice. After a cabinet meeting with the Brandenburg state government, Wegner said that Berlin currently does not have the appropriate requirements for such a process. However, he brought up considerations for a referendum, with the focus being on the development of Tempelhofer Feld. He left it open whether the Senate or the House of Representatives should make the decision, which leads to the question of direct democracy in the city. It seems like this could be a hot potato, especially because the coalition does not have the necessary two-thirds majority for a constitutional amendment that would be necessary for such a move. This was well summarized by taz.

However, the discussion about direct democracy is not new. In the past, the Left and the Greens have resorted to accusations that it was a “referendum from above” when the government initiated a referendum. In Berlin, the only possibility of a referendum is through a popular initiative or referendum, which usually takes at least two years before the vote. For comparison, in Hamburg the state parliament has been able to call a referendum since 2015 if two thirds of the representatives agree - a model that was already used in the decision on an Olympic bid and which is due to be voted on again on May 31st.

Olympic ambitions

Another hot topic that concerns the two state governments of Berlin and Brandenburg is the discussion about an Olympic bid. In Munich, 67 percent of participants recently voted in favor of an application in a referendum. This could also be interpreted as an expression of a general vote for the Olympic Games in Germany. However, the opinion polls in Berlin show a different picture: in the summer there was less than 40 percent support for an Olympic bid. Both Wegner and Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke from the SPD confirmed their support for an application at a press conference and referred to investments that have already flowed into the regatta course in Brandenburg an der Havel.

The capital and the neighboring federal state last discussed close cooperation on the Charité campus in Berlin in April 2024. This cooperation is highlighted as positive by both heads of government. Nevertheless, the opposition CDU faction in the Brandenburg state parliament expresses the desire for even more intensive cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg. Even if the current discussions and the planned referendum bring movement to the matter, Friday's meeting threatened to be overshadowed by announcements from the coalition partner BSW, in particular that they do not want to agree to the state broadcasting contracts. However, the SPD and BSW factions asserted that the coalition remains stable. The CDU has the task of securing the necessary approval for the contracts and to do this requires the support of a single BSW MP who would have to deviate from the party line.

Digital trends and TikTok

TikTok has repeatedly had to face criticism because of allegations about data protection and the spread of misinformation. In addition, senior CEOs such as Vanessa Pappas were replaced in June 2023, with Shou Zi Chew now taking over the reins. In 2023, the EU even issued a ban on TikTok on official devices, underscoring the increasing regulatory pressure.