The federal electoral committee had three surprises to offer when it decided on Thursday and Friday whether to allow smaller groups to participate in the federal elections. The largest: the III. Weg may well compete in the federal election. So a “right-wing extremist small party” according to the protection of the constitution.
When he announced the decision, the chairman of the committee, Federal Returning Officer Georg Thiel, stated that the public process did not examine the party program, but only formal criteria. These are the scope and firmness of the organization, public presence and participation in elections so far. Established parties that sit in a parliament with at least five members are not examined.
“Deadlines are deadlines,” said the chairman of the Federal Electoral Committee, Federal Returning Officer Georg Thiel, justifying the second surprise in the Federal Electoral Committee in 2021. The Communists from the DKP will probably not be allowed to vote.
The party, which was founded in 1968, was undone by the fact that its annual reports have never been submitted within the statutory deadline for the past six years. The DKP has thus lost its legal status as a party. “What is being tried here is a cold party ban”, with the withdrawal of party status one wants to “drive the party into financial ruin,” said DKP chairman Patrik Köbele. “Of course we will all appeal.” Groups can lodge a complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court until July 13th, which then has to decide by July 29th.
The third surprise goes by the name of the South Schleswig voter association SSW. The party of the Danish minority and national Frisians in North Friesland received the legal status of a party of a national minority. On September 26, one of their candidates could actually move into the Bundestag. Because for the SSW – so far only represented in the Kiel state parliament – the five percent hurdle in the federal government does not apply. The federal electoral committee examined 88 groups. Those who have been recognized must now submit enough signatures from supporters. In normal years that is 200, under difficult pandemic conditions 50. In total, the federal electoral committee allowed 44 non-established parties to vote on September 26th.
(With material from dpa.)
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