Advertising ban initiative in Berlin deemed acceptable by the Senate - Parliament weighs in on Commission's proposal for a worker radiation safety directive
Berlin's bid for a less advertising city has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of the second stage of the popular initiative, "Berlin popular vote ad-free." The initiative aims to reduce advertising in the city and has set its sights on collecting signatures from eligible voters.
The Senate is involved in the process, having declared the bill submitted by the initiators admissible. However, the Senate has yet to decide whether to adopt or reject the bill, with a rejection considered likely. The initial proposal sought to ban digital commercial advertising in public spaces, but this was not accepted by the Senate.
The Senate's decision will be made within a four-month period. If the required signatures are collected, a popular vote will occur, allowing citizens to cast their ballots like in an election. The day of the proposed popular vote coincides with the Berlin House of Representatives election, scheduled for the 20th of September 2026.
The process of the popular initiative is ongoing, with the Berlin House of Representatives to be involved next. To initiate a popular vote, citizens or groups must collect a certain number of valid signatures supporting the initiative within a designated timeframe. For Berlin, this usually means gathering signatures from 7% of eligible voters in the city, which is approximately 170,000 people.
The initiative will begin collecting signatures in early January 2026. If successful, it will mark a significant step towards a potentially ad-free Berlin. For precise details about the procedural steps and the current status of the initiative, it is recommended to consult official Berlin government or Berlin state parliament sources.
- The Senate's decision on the admissible bill submitted by the initiators of the "Berlin popular vote ad-free" initiative will be crucial, as it may lead to a rejection, given the politics surrounding policy-and-legislation in the arena of general-news.
- As the Senate deliberates the proposed bill, the organizers of the initiative are preparing to gather signatures from eligible voters, aiming to collect signatures from 7% of voters in Berlin, ensuring that the initiative falls under the purview of policy-and-legislation in the realm of general-news.
