German electoral umpire Ruth Brand warns against early election as Scholz picks January 15, 2025

Admin l Saturday, November 08, 2024

 

BERLIN – German electoral authorities on Friday warned Chancellor Olaf Scholz that an early election in January 2025 would carry “unforeseeable risks.”

In a letter to Scholz seen by dpa entitled “Challenges and risks of an early election in January or February 2025,” Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand cautioned that the “cornerstone of democracy and trust in the integrity of the election could be violated.”

After the collapse of his three-party coalition earlier this week, Scholz promised to hold a vote of confidence in January ahead of potential new elections in March, but opposition parties have been urging him to move his timetable forward.

However, Brand said dissolving Germany’s lower house of parliament – the Bundestag – before the Christmas period would lead to “unforeseeable risks at all levels.”
According to German electoral law, elections must be held 60 days of the dissolution of the Bundestag.

Problems could arise in the procurement of paper and the commissioning of printing service providers, Brand said.
In addition, special security measures would have to be taken due to increasing hybrid threats.

Brand also fears that recently founded parties – which have to collect signatures of support in order to stand – are under additional time pressure.

An overload of the electoral offices could lead to postal ballot documents not being sent out in time, especially to people living abroad. Election documents could also go missing and electoral officers might not be adequately trained.