Migrant representatives want to campaign ahead of local elections
Integration advisory councils in cities and municipalities want to become more visible ahead of the local elections next year and specifically address other people with a migration background. "The advisory boards exist, but too little is known about what they do," said Argyri Paraschaki-Schauer, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg State Association of Municipal Migrant Representatives (LAKA). The aim is for more migrants to get involved - including in local politics. "There are too few people with a migration background in local parliaments," noted Paraschaki-Schauer.
This is partly due to the fact that, as third-country nationals, they are not allowed to vote or are not familiar with forms of participation in democracies. This also applies to EU citizens. Despite having the right to vote in local elections, many have not learned to vote. "They would like to get more involved, but don't know how," the Managing Director told the German Press Agency.
Others prefer to keep to themselves. "We also want to tickle them and say that you have to represent your own interests. And we want to do this with a view to jointly shaping local society, because democracy thrives on voices, on participation." She said that there needs to be more diversity in local parliaments: "Everyone should think about everyone."
Best practice examples
It is important to reach migrants, she said at the association's first state conference in Mannheim on Saturday. Examples of the successful work of municipal integration advisory boards will be presented there. For example, the one in Rottenburg am Neckar (Tübingen district) has established a school project against racism. There is a political workshop in Pforzheim and a political academy for migrants in Heidelberg. The Tübingen Integration Council, on the other hand, has set up an ombudsman's office. This is intended to be a point of contact if people in the city are (possibly) discriminated against by the administration.
According to Paraschaki-Schauer, there are integration or migration councils in many municipalities and cities in Baden-Württemberg. Their term of office often ends with the term of the local parliament. In some places, however, they are only limited to two years by rotation, for example. Local councillors often appoint the members of the advisory boards, she explained.
The regional association celebrated its 25th anniversary in the summer. It was founded on June 13, 1998 under the name "Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft der kommunalen Ausländervertretungen Baden-Württemberg".
Shift to the right in local elections?
According to Paraschaki-Schauer, LAKA is concerned about the success of the AfD in recent months, which could also be reflected in the local elections on June 9. "One difficulty is being able to counter and withstand the populist AfD statements," she said.
The other question is how to address issues without becoming the target of hostility, hatred and agitation. "You censor yourself because you're afraid you'll get a shitstorm otherwise."
This is why the association's work in the coming months will also focus on training those involved in political education and rhetoric, she explained. "We want to empower them."
Migrant integration advisory councils in various municipalities aim to increase their visibility during the upcoming local elections, as they believe more representation from migrant backgrounds is needed in local politics. Unfortunately, many migrants, whether third-country nationals or EU citizens, are either not allowed to vote or are unfamiliar with the democratic participation processes.
To address this, LAKA, the Baden-Württemberg State Association of Municipal Migrant Representatives, plans to present best practice examples from municipalities at their state conference, showcasing successful initiatives such as political workshops and anti-racism school projects. By sharing these success stories, they aim to encourage more migrants to participate in local elections and become part of shaping their communities.
Source: www.dpa.com
