Ali Mete, Secretary General of the Islamic Community Millî Görüş (IGMG), made a statement on the occasion of this weekend’s Bremen State Elections, in which 19% of the population will not be able to vote because they do not hold German citizenship.

“There is a lack of democratic participation in Germany. This is particularly evident in Bremen.” Mete said: 

“On Sunday, approximately 463,000 eligible voters in Bremen will have the opportunity to participate in the state parliament elections. Around 18% of those eligible to vote have migrant backgrounds. We are pleased to see that, compared to the federal level, this is the highest rate. But on the other hand, around 19% of Bremeners will not be able to vote. The exclusion of nearly one in five people from participating in this process is a clear sign of a lack of democracy.

In a country with such a high number of immigrants, it is important to address democratic deficiencies and ensure equal political participation, especially considering the anticipated increase in immigration from foreign countries. All predictions indicate that the number of foreigners in Germany will continue to grow in the coming years. With new waves of immigration, the number of people without a German passport will also increase.

On this occasion, we reiterate our call to the legislature:

The right to vote should be extended to individuals without a German passport, and it should not be hindered by outdated arguments that do not reflect the realities of our time. Politicians must consider the cultural and religious diversity of the population. Democracy can only survive as long as people feel represented, trust politics and feel supported by it. Deprivation of the right to vote, however, will have the opposite effect. People will feel excluded. This would undermine the trust people have in politics, the state, and state institutions. It is difficult to comprehend that individuals who have been long-time residents, workers, and taxpayers in Germany are excluded from the decision-making process on matters that directly impact their lives simply because they are not officially recognized as German citizens. Despite having embraced Germany as their home, they are denied a voice in shaping the policies and future of the country. However, there are countless examples of this in other countries.”