Almanya

Repeated State Election Berlin 2023

Bündnis90/Grüne

Die Grauen

Die Humanisten

Die Linke

Die PARTEI

Die Urbane.

Graue Panther

Klimaliste

ÖDP

Piratenpartei

Team Todenhöfer

Tierschutzpartei

Verjüngungsforschung

Volt

Some parties want to make the last year of kindergarten compulsory. This is hoped to provide greater equality of opportunity for children, who will then be educated together. Others, however, argue that a voluntary pre-school year, which was abolished in 2005, should first be reintroduced before it becomes compulsory.

In federal states such as Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg or Schleswig-Holstein, people are allowed to vote in state elections from the age of 16. In the remaining 12 federal states, the minimum age is 18, as in the federal election. There are repeated discussions about lowering the voting age to 16 in the federal government. 

Proponents are of the opinion that young people are already ready to actively shape their future. This is also reflected in their numerous voluntary activities and climate protests. Since the participation of young people in political decision-making processes will strengthen democracy, the voting age for state elections should be lowered to 16. 

Opponents of this requirement argue that minors are easier to influence and that they should not be able to properly overview and assess the consequences of their actions. They also question whether and to what extent young people already have political knowledge and how strong their political interest is.

Until now, the mayor of the city of Berlin has not been elected directly by the citizens, but by the Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Representatives). For this, the candidate needs more votes than the competition. However, the composition of the Abgeordnetenhaus is determined by the citizens in an election. Thus, the mayor usually represents the majority opinion of the population. Proponents of a direct election to the post of mayor argue that this would increase their political legitimacy and thus also their standing among the population. This could increase people's satisfaction with the democratic system. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that indirect legitimacy through the election of the democratically determined Abgeordnetenhaus is sufficient. Moreover, too strong a position of the mayor could promote populism and, at worst, weaken confidence in parliament as a legislative institution. Too much focus on individual persons is therefore undesirable.

At a community school, all pupils are taught together from the first grade until graduation. Nevertheless, there is still the Gymnasium in parallel. Only those who want to achieve the Abitur go to school here. It is debated whether pupils should also go to a community school up to the Abitur. 

Supporters of a community school see the multi-tier system as a cause for the emergence or perpetuation of social inequality. For them, the community school represents a model that focuses on greater inclusion and integration and in which pupils achieve higher learning successes through learning together. 

Critics, on the other hand, argue that there is no evidence for higher learning success under these conditions and that homogeneous learning groups, above all, would promote educational success. Moreover, a community school would not do justice to particularly gifted pupils.

In Germany, skilled workers are needed in many areas, but especially in the nursing sector. This is especially true in Berlin. This shortage and the progressive ageing of society are arguments in favour of actively recruiting people from abroad. The argument against this is that these workers are then lacking in the labour market of their country of origin.

In the past year, the EU has increasingly addressed the question of whether the use of biometric facial recognition software should be allowed in public spaces. A legislative proposal now divides it into three risk categories: software that has an unacceptable risk, such as the social scoring system in China, is to be banned. Software that allows companies to evaluate job applicants should also be strictly regulated. Finally, everything that is not explicitly banned is to remain largely unregulated. Some hope that this will lead to a higher rate of criminal investigations and strengthen domestic security. Others, however, are sceptical - for them, the uses of facial recognition software go too far.

At the beginning of the school year now underway, around 1000 teachers were missing in Berlin. However, during the Corona pandemic, many schools were forced to switch to online teaching. Some would like to combine this: The infrastructure that now exists is to be used to counteract the teacher shortage - because those who are taught online at home do not need a supervisor at school during this time. Opponents, however, argue that online teaching can never be as good as physical teaching and everything should be done to find as many teachers as possible.

So far, only Germans are allowed to vote. Only at the municipal level can people who have the nationality of an EU country - such as people from France or the Czech Republic - also vote.

Many people are campaigning for people from all countries who have lived in Germany for several years to also be allowed to vote in municipal and state elections. Their argument is that people without German citizenship are also involved in associations and pay taxes. They are part of society and should therefore also be allowed to help shape the rules. Others see it differently and argue that the right to vote must be linked to citizenship. Those who have lived in Germany for a long time should therefore apply for citizenship and thus obtain the right to vote.

One of the tasks of the Bundeswehr is public relations work. For this purpose, there are, for example, so-called "youth officers" who work as speakers and provide information on defence and security policy topics. In addition to information events, they also offer large-scale events, excursions or lectures for various institutions. The focus, however, is on schools - especially teachers and pupils in grades 9 to 13. This educational work of the Bundeswehr in schools is evaluated differently. Supporters see this format as an important opportunity to convey information about the work of the Bundeswehr and the experiences of soldiers. Opponents see it as an advertising format for the military.

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