Munich Foreigners Advisory Council

If you're registered with the Munich authorities as being a non-German passport holder then a few days ago (10th April-ish) you should have received in the post a Wahlbenachrichtigung. This is a form to fill in if you wish to vote in the 2004 elections for the Munich Foreign Advisory Council (the Auslaenderbeirat). Do you wish to vote? Nope, I didn't think so. Which means the best thing to do with this form is to file it in the round cabinet. If, somewhat bizarrely, you *are* interested in voting, here's a brief recap of what the council is, what they do (hint: very little) and how you go about voting. ...

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/munich-foreigners-advisory-council.gif[/img]

According to their blub: for 30 years the Munich Foreigners Advisory Council has represented the interests of the approximately 290,000 foreigners in Munich.

Note, bear in mind that of these 290,000 the vast majority are Yugoslavs, Turks, Italians, and various East Europeans. Only 12,000 are American, British, Irish, Canadian, Australian, New Zealander or South African (Munich Population Statistics).

The council is elected for a 6 year term, has 40 volunteer members, an annual budget of 100k Euro. Its job is to act as the communication bridge between the foreigners themselves and the Munich city council. They campaign against discrimination in the workplace and for the equal education of children of foreigners. The coucil also organises various events such as an international sports festival, a multi-cultural arts festival, and an international storytelling festival (woohoo!).

The 2004 voting takes place 3rd - 9th May. If you are entitled to vote you should have automatically received a vote registration form via the post by 10th April. If you wish to vote you should fill out this form and return it to the election office in person by midday Friday 16th April or in writing by Saturday 17th April 2004. The results of the election will be announced 24th May.

There are more details (in English) on the city council's Fremdsprachige Informationen page.

Munich Foreigners Advisory Council
Ausländerbeirat
Burgstrasse 4, 80331 Munich
Tel. 089 23392454
Open Mon-Thu 9.30am - 3pm, Fri 9.30am - 12.30pm
Website: Ausländerbeirat München

The Munich Found article says that the turnout last time was just 10%.

But would you trust this man with your children or your interests??? Cumali Naz - Vorsitzender des Ausländerbeirates.

If you look at the website they also seem to organise a lot of women's swimming days. Hmmm, goddamn sexual discrimination again!!

Anyone can run for the council however, and Keydeck, if you did and were elected, you could push for mandatory Polizeidepp on the ubahns. Or would that be Depppolizei?

Anyone planning to vote in this election? The council claims to represent and provide valuable services to foreigners in Munich. The vote looks open to legal foreigners in general as well as people with dual nationality and naturalized citizens.

Their three major areas of involvement are summarized as:

1. Community Politics - For Munich residents without a German passport

2. Against Discrimination - For Integration

3. Bridges- Between the municipal admin, clubs, associations, and political groupsetc. etc...

Yeah, I'll be voting; even though as an EU Citizen I already get to vote for Munich City Council anyway. From what I remember about the lists last time, it seemed pretty much a stich up between the largest communities in Munich.They don't have huge powers but it is worth voting as it is an institution that the CSU has plans to abolish if they ever get to run Munich City Council cos "everyone could choose to apply to be a German so it is unncecessary"....

Yeah, I plan on voting too. You have something like 5 days to do it in too, so there's no panic for just one day. I also plan on voting as this is the ONE thing that I get to vote for, after paying all my taxes. If they are my only representatives for the government, by god, I want them to represent me.