Election Day Approaches: Erfurt's Foreigners' Council
Collaborating in dialogue, shaping policies, and making collective decisions - Erfurt elects its fresh advisory board for foreign residents.
June 15, 2025, is a significant date for Erfurt: Election day for the city's Foreigners' Council. For the first time, individuals without a German passport are invited to participate in the democratic process.
by Melanie Lal, our website THÜRINGEN
Key topics to be covered:
- The purpose and significance of Erfurt's Foreigners' Council
- The role of the Foreigners' Council in addressing the concerns of a diverse community
- Insights from four foreign residents about the Foreigners' Council
- The eligibility requirements for voting
- The election process and options for casting votes
- The Foreigners' Council's past achievements
What's the Community Gaining from the Foreigners' Council?
The Foreigners' Council plays a vital role in creating a bridge between politics, administration, and the foreign population in Erfurt. Its mission is to promote equal rights, irrespective of nationality or citizenship, and to represent the interests of immigrants effectively. As Yasmine Simone Maly from the Thuringia MigraNet association explains, "The Foreigners' Council is part of democratic self-determination. But it should be more visible. It's about empowerment - about being heard."
Erfurt: A Brief Snapshot of Foreign Perspectives
On June 15, the Foreigners' Council will be elected in Erfurt. Around 22,000 foreign residents are eligible to vote. Here are four perspectives from different residents about their thoughts on the Foreigners' Council:
Show all (4) images
How Does the Foreigners' Council Support the Community?
The Foreigners' Council serves as an advisor, supporter, and source of information for all foreign people in Erfurt. Its goal is to ensure that the interests of immigrants are considered and their concerns addressed. By connecting with local authorities, the council works to shape policies that benefit the immigrant community and promote coexistence.
Who Can Sit on the Foreigners' Council?
The council consists of 13 voting members, who are elected for a five-year term. Any foreign citizen, including German citizens with a migration background, can run for office. However, only foreign citizens are eligible to vote. In addition, the council includes advisory representatives from the city council, administration, and civil society organizations.
Voting for a More Inclusive City
All foreign citizens who are at least 16 years old and have lived in Erfurt for at least three months are eligible to vote. Non-German EU citizens also belong to this group and can vote in local elections in Germany.
Citizens can cast their votes by mail – documents can be sent by post or returned to the Town Hall or the Office for Migration and Integration by June 15, at 3 pm. To make the voting process as accessible as possible, the city of Erfurt provides voting information on its website in eleven languages. Each voter is given three votes to distribute as they see fit among the candidates.
The Foreigners' Council: Past Achievements and Future Goals
Through various projects, the council has been instrumental in promoting cooperation among different nationalities, defending the rights of immigrants, and fostering understanding and acceptance within the city. Jose Manuel Paca, the current chairman of the Foreigners' Council Erfurt and an active community member since the 1990s, believes that the council has played a crucial role in factors such as protecting asylum seekers, addressing racial issues, and promoting intercultural competence. Paca emphasizes the importance of further expanding the council's influence: "Every municipality needs a Foreigners' Council."
By voting, residents can demonstrate their support for a more democratic and inclusive city. As Paca points out, "With your vote, you confirm that we hunger for democracy."
- The Foreigners' Council, a vital link between politics, administration, and foreign residents in Erfurt, aims to promote equal rights and represent the interests of immigrants effectively, as Yasmine Simone Maly from Thuringia MigraNet association stated.
- The Foreigners' Council serves as an advisor, supporter, and source of information for all foreign people in Erfurt, working to shape policies that benefit the immigrant community and promote coexistence, as mentioned by the goal of the council.
