NEBE study visit in Berlin

The Board of NEBE was invited to Germany by its long-standing partner: the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). The study visit was in Berlin from the 15th to the 19th of April 2024.

The study visit focused on: Germany's electoral system (legal framework, institutions and management); learning about political party registration, administration/regulation; and getting an understanding of the Berlin State Election Commission's relations with other Governmental organs (Federal Parliament and Regional Parliaments)

The Board had a brief meeting with Elbarlament, a close partner to NIMD. Elbarlament is a German Organization which works on supporting Parliaments.

Germany has "Federal, State and City States". There are 598 MPs at Federal level, the "Bundestag" (Federal Parliament) and 69 MPs at State levels ("Bundesrat", the Chamber of States). Currently, 36% are women MPs (the target was 50%).

For the first time, Germany is led by a coalition of three main political parties (the Social Democratic Party, the Christian Party and the Greens) following its elections in 2021. Germany uses a mixed electoral system.

The main highlight of the study tour was the meeting with the Secretariat, of the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee which is responsible for examining the validation of election. The Board had also a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (Returning officer) for Berlin and his team at the Berlin State Electoral Office.

During the discussions, the Board learned about the "homogeneity principle" mandatory in the design of State Constitutions, including the electoral law; Germany’s approach to election administration; the reform process which was in progress at the time of the visit, particularly reforms regarding use of technology and inclusion.

The NEBE and the Berlin State Electoral Office agreed to continue such types of exchange visits for mutual learning.