Violent dispute over the new election of the representative assembly in the Jewish community in Berlin

Violent dispute over the new election of the representative assembly in the Jewish community in Berlin

dispute over the new election of the representative assembly in the Jewish community of Berlin

The Jewish community in Berlin is currently the focus of a violent discussion because of the planned new election of its representative. The reason for this is a controversial electoral order, against which two members of the municipality submitted an injunction to the court of the Central Council of the Jews. The application is available to the Berliner Zeitung. The two members have been active in the municipality for over 70 years and see democratic principles violated by the electoral code.

The election regulations have some special features: from the age of 70, no members may not run for the representative assembly. This means that Holocaust survivors are excluded from a candidacy. It is also particularly irritating for the members that this age limit does not apply to the reigning representatives. Furthermore, the election is carried out exclusively by postal voting, which means that the identity of the voters cannot be checked. This means a clear break with the previous principle of personal voting.

Another point of criticism concerns the exclusion of mandate carriers for other Jewish organizations such as the Claims Conference, Makkabi, Masorti, Lauder, the Central Council or Chabad. This type of discrimination due to belonging to a Jewish organization is unique in Germany and will probably not withstand a legal review, according to lawyer.

The lack of transparency also causes criticism. The amended statutes of the Jewish community have not yet been fully published. Many members do not find the possibility of viewing the statutes during the opening hours in the municipality.

The chairpersons of the Jewish community reject the allegations and refer to the existing age limits and the exclusion of members of other clubs. The municipality fears that members of other clubs could abuse the Jewish community in order to gain advantages. The municipality mentions pension insurance as a model for postal voting.

The central question now is whether the court of the Central Council of Jews is responsible for the conflict. The Jewish community emphasizes that it has set up an arbitration committee herself and that it should check the election regulations. Nevertheless, according to the Berliner Zeitung, one assumes that the court will declare itself as responsible. In the event of nullity of the election order, the court could impose sanctions against the municipality. There is even the possibility that the Central Council is recommended to deprive the municipality of membership in its organs for up to two years.

The Jewish community is optimistic and assumes that the election regulations confirm and the election is carried out properly. The members are calmed down and point out that heated discussions and debates are conducted before each election.