A Playground for Activism? A Look at Berlin's "Citizen-led Initiatives"
"Demand for Car-Free Berlin Gains Momentum"
In the heart of Germany, Berlin's "citizen-led initiatives" have become a battleground for left-wing and green activists, much to the chagrin of critics. But where did this all start, and is this truly the purpose it was designed for?
In a contentious decision, Berlin's highest court, the Constitutional Court, gave the green light to the "Berlin Car-Free" initiative. The organizers can now rally up to 170,000 signatures to trigger a public vote.
If at least 25% of eligible citizens support the proposal, a law will be enacted that all but bans private vehicles in the city center, allowing only 12 annual trips, each lasting 24 hours. To enforce this, Section 12 of the proposed legislation states that offenders may face fines.
The driving force behind "Berlin Car-Free" is an organization called "Trust Society e.V.". Its members range from cycling enthusiasts to avid public transportation users, seemingly disregarding the needs of others who depend on personal vehicles.
A Movement Ignoring Other Needs
The "Berlin Car-Free" initiative might seem too radical to put into words. It isn't a grassroots movement, but rather the brainchild of radical groups striving to impose their beliefs.
Similarly, two years ago, the referendum "Berlin 2030 Climate Neutral" failed miserably. Climate extremists had banded together in the "Alliance Climate Restart Berlin" to enact a motor vehicle ban, putting the concept of referendums on its head.
Instead, these citizen-led initiatives and referendums have become tools for political extremists and lobby groups to force their will upon the majority. If they suspect that the public won't support their agenda, they create a threat scenario for politicians: "Better do what we want, or risk a referendum."
This was also seen in the "Citizens' Initiative Bicycle" of 2015, whose demands were incorporated into the "Mobility Act" of Red-Red-Green in 2018. Behind it stood powerful lobby groups such as the ADFC and BUND. Once their demands had been met, they discontinued the campaign without ever asking the public for their opinion.
Citizen-led legislation was established in 2006 through a referendum (referendum). Since then, it has offered an alternative way to pass laws bypassing parliament, as exemplified by the "Act for the Preservation of the Tempelhofer Field," which came into effect in May 2014. It mandates that the Senate refrain from any construction or use of the former airport.
Questions Arise
The citizen-led legislation poses questions that have yet to be fully answered:
- A referendum is usually subject to approval by the Senate (or the Constitutional Court in the event of a dispute), but the initiators have no obligation to demonstrate damage caused by their proposed law. Should the lack of this balancing of interests continue?
- A law can pass with the support of at least 25% of all eligible voters in the referendum. Is this minority powerful enough to enact a law with far-reaching consequences for everyone?
A Matter of Perspective
Critics argue that citizen-led initiatives have become a playground for left-wing and green activists, straying far from their intended purpose. But it can be argued that this tool offers citizens a means to stand up for their rights and challenge the government when democratically elected representatives fail to address their concerns.
Are the critics correct to question the misuse of Berlin's citizen-led initiatives? Let us know what you think at [email protected]
*Read all columns by Gunnar Schupelius here***
- The Berlin Car-Free initiative, driven by the Trust Society e.V., is a manifestation of environmental-science activists using citizen-led initiatives as a tool to implement their climate-change policies.
- The disregard for general-news issues, such as personal vehicle needs, raises questions about the purpose of these initiatives, as they seem to be utilized more by political extremists and lobby groups.
- The failure of the referendum Berlin 2030 Climate Neutral demonstrates the danger of undermining democracy through these initiatives, as lobby groups like the Alliance Climate Restart Berlin can manipulate them to force their policies without considering the majority's opinions.
