Why is rubbish causing such a stink in the Berlin elections?
From abandoned mattresses to syringes in playgrounds, Berliners say the capital’s rubbish problem is getting worse. Why is the city so dirty – and will politicians manage to clean it up after the state elections?
Abdu Taviq, an Egyptian software developer, moved to Berlin more than a decade ago due to a job offer. He now appreciates Berlin's culture and relaxed lifestyle. However, he is frustrated with the city's rising rental prices and bureaucratic red tape. Taviq, like many other non-Germans living in Berlin, cannot vote in local elections, despite paying taxes and being active members of the community.
The upcoming state election on September 20 will be attended by 976,000 eligible non-German voters, but they have no say in selecting their local government. This disenfranchisement has led Green Party Mayor Stefanie Remlinger in Mitte district to organize a symbolic election for her district's non-German residents, in hopes of raising awareness for the issue.
Despite Remlinger's efforts, she believes that the current political climate in Germany, particularly with the rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, makes it unlikely that voting rights will be expanded for non-Germans anytime soon.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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