As of: February 24, 2024, 5:46 a.m
By: Dieter Dorby
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The exception to the rule: panel discussions like the one in our newspaper in September 2023 on the state elections - you can see (from left) Bruno Peetroons (SPD), Gerhard Waas (Greens), Ilse Aigner (CSU), moderator Stephen Hank, Martin Rosenberger (FW) , Dirk Kreder (FDP) and Jurij Kofner (AfD) – are still possible in the Waitzinger Keller because of their non-partisan information nature.
All we can do is open our eyes to the fact that we are not making the AfD strong - but we will do that if we put them in a corner.
Inge Jooß (SPD) © Christian Scholle
From now on, political events are no longer possible in public buildings in the city of Miesbach three months before elections.
The city council passed the corresponding resolution at its meeting on Thursday evening.
Miesbach – The decisive factor for this is that municipalities have to behave neutrally in the context of elections.
This means: No party or group may be favored or disadvantaged.
What is described in great detail with public buildings only specifically revolves around the Waitzinger Keller.
The Miesbacher Stadthalle is the largest event location in the district town, and until now, without any specific regulation, no election campaign events were allowed to take place there.
Mayor Gerhard Braunmiller (CSU) cited the Upper Bavaria district as an example, which does not allow events by parties and factions with a public focus in its facilities in the three months before elections.
This is intended to remove the opportunity for local authorities to influence the free decision-making process.
The district office also recommends such an approach to avoid any appearance of election influence.
Observe equal opportunities
At the same time, the principle of equal opportunities must be observed.
That means: If you allow election campaign events, according to Braunmiller, every party must have the right to rent the Waitzinger basement.
The exclusion of certain parties is not permitted.
Such a negative assessment would encroach on the fundamental right to equal opportunities.
An exception to this are panel discussions, such as those organized by our newspaper in the run-up to elections.
According to Braunmiller, this is not a political campaign event for a party, but rather general, non-partisan information for citizens.
Bräuwirt is classified differently
Paul Fertl (SPD) was not happy with this solution.
“This amounts to depoliticization,” he criticized.
Of course it is clear that in the background it is about the AfD, “but they don't exist here”.
Most recently, SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert's appearance in the Waitzinger Keller failed because of this rule.
“For this reason, we are very sensitive.” Fertl couldn’t understand why the city’s own Bräuwirt on the market square should not fall under this ban.
Managing director Gerhard Führer provided the answer: “The Waitzinger keller is a building open to the public.
It's different with a lease." With this, the landlord has the authority to decide who he makes his rooms available to.
Inge Jooß (SPD) thought that exceptions should still be possible, for example when giving a lecture on a current political topic.
The speaker would then be neutral and people could discuss.
When it comes to dealing with the AfD, she said: “We can only open our eyes to the fact that we are not making them strong - but we will do that if we put them in a corner.”
Approval for fundamental decision
Second Mayor Astrid Güldner (Greens) supported the proposed resolution: “We currently don’t have any extreme parties in Miesbach, but that doesn’t mean it will always stay that way.” The Bräuwirt will remain as an event location – with the tenant’s discretion.
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“The neutrality obligation is not new,” added Erhard Pohl (CSU).
“It is right and necessary that it applies to everyone.”
The city council voted 19:5 in favor of no political events taking place in the Waitzinger Keller three months before elections.
In the case of non-partisan panel discussions, the mayor should decide whether to allow the event upon request.
ddy