campaign start - Free Voters bet on retaining clinics - withdrawal of the deputy
The Free Voters focus on the preservation of hospitals and doctor's offices as a key issue in the state election campaign. "Medical care in rural regions is becoming increasingly difficult," said the chairman of BVB/Free Voters, Péter Vida, at the campaign kick-off meeting in Bernau.
He demanded equal healthcare for all people. "We must save all hospitals," he said. "We must ensure that all doctor's offices remain."
Vida criticized the majority of the Landtag's main committee for declaring a Free Voters initiative for the preservation of hospitals and doctor's offices as legally inadmissible because it combined four different demands and was not specific enough. The assembly decided to appeal the rejection before the Constitutional Court.
Candidacy withdrawal of Vice-Chairwoman
The umbrella organization of voter groups and citizen initiatives removed Vice-Landeschefin Ilona Nicklisch as a direct candidate in Wahlkreis 39 (Senftenberg) and from the state list on place 4. Most district chairmen fear that Nicklisch, due to a serious illness and a loss in the communal election, will not be able to lead a successful campaign. Her sister Christina Nicklisch said it was "disgraceful" to punish her sister in this way, as she was ready to serve.
The motion received 78 yes votes, 16 no votes, and 19 abstentions. Landtags deputy Matthias Stefke said the step was not an easy one. But: "It is necessary for our strength and it is necessary for her protection," he said. New direct candidate is Cortina Geike.
In Wahlkreis 37 (Elbe-Elster II), Direct candidate Michael Franke was removed. He did not join the own fraction in the Elbe-Elster district council, but a fraction close to the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance. New direct candidate is Sandra Raddatz.
State leader against arms deliveries to Ukraine
The Free Voters also call themselves "the Oranges" and campaign with the fruit symbol. It's about being a spokesperson "for the everyday concerns of Brandenburgers," said Vida. He also advocates for better offers of public transportation in all state regions. This must be strengthened so that there is an offer "up to the last farmstead," said Vida.
The chairman of the Brandenburg Citizens' Movements/Free Voters condemned the Russian attack war on Ukraine but spoke out against arms deliveries to Ukraine. "It is no contradiction to condemn an attack war, to provide humanitarian aid, and at the same time to speak out against arms deliveries," he said.
Vida also spoke out against wind turbines in the forest. "It must be the end of further environmental disturbance." The minimum distance to residential construction must be increased from 1,000 to at least 1,500 meters.
Vida hopes for a direct mandate
On September 22, a new state parliament will be elected. BVB/Free Voters were at 4% in the latest Insa survey for the "Bild" newspaper and thus missed the five-percent hurdle for the state parliament. But Vida remains optimistic about winning the direct mandate in Bernau/Panketal - the five-percent hurdle according to the state election law does not apply in this case. In the 2019 state election, BVB/Free Voters achieved 5%. After the departure of an MP to the AfD fraction, the Landtags fraction became a group.
- The Free Voters are heavily focusing on preserving hospitals and doctor's offices during their state election campaign.
- Péter Vida, the chairman of BVB/Free Voters, highlighted the difficulty of medical care in rural regions at the campaign launch meeting in Bernau.
- Vida advocated for equal healthcare for all people and emphasized the importance of saving hospitals and doctor's offices.
- The Free Voters initiative for preserving hospitals and doctor's offices was deemed inadmissible by the Landtag's main committee due to its combination of four demands.
- The assembly decided to appeal the rejection of the initiative before the Constitutional Court.
- A candidacy withdrawal was announced for Vice-Landeschefin Ilona Nicklisch in Wahlkreis 39 (Senftenberg) due to her health concerns and loss in the communal election.
- Matthias Stefke, a Landtags deputy, expressed that the step was necessary for the protection of Nicklisch, despite the disapproval of her sister.
- Borussia Dortmund, the umbrella organization of voter groups and citizen initiatives, replaced Vice-Landeschefin Ilona Nicklisch with Cortina Geike as the direct candidate in Wahlkreis 39 (Senftenberg).
- Vida, the chairman of the Brandenburg Citizens' Movements/Free Voters, strongly opposes wind turbines in the forest and proposes increasing the minimum distance to residential construction to at least 1,500 meters.
