Election of the Migration Advisory Board in Munich postponed to November 2026!

Election of the Migration Advisory Board in Munich postponed to November 2026!

München, Deutschland - in Munich, the shift in the choice of the migration advisory board causes a lot of excitement. Instead of the municipal election on March 8, 2026 as planned, the election of the migration advisory board will now be transferred to November 22, 2026. This decision that the city council has made is not only a logistical challenge, but also a political turning point. The migration advisory board itself, which in 2023 only achieved a turnout of a meager 3.1 %, is outraged by the decision. Klara Schinnerl and other members criticize that the migrants' voice could lose importance, while Andrei Yagoubov warns that the advisory board could lose its democratic legitimacy. After all, almost half of the Munich population is affected by a migration background.

The decision to decouple brings financial reasons. The city administration and city council estimate the costs for the simultaneous implementation of the elections to around 911,000 euros, while the shift can save around 570,000 euros. Micky Wenngatz, City Councilor of the SPD, states that separate elections are necessary for legal reasons and that the additional costs would not be insignificant. Nevertheless, the question remains how the growing inequality for migrants will develop in political participation.

political participation and their meaning

political participation in Germany is an essential part of the integration of migrants. About 10 % of the 82.2 million people in Germany have no German citizenship, and the trend towards exclusion is in the room. Although migrants from EU countries have the opportunity to take part in local elections, third-country countries lack access to the political system. They are largely excluded from local, state and federal elections. This inequality is perceived as a "democratic deficit" and entails intensive debates about political participation.

Why is this so important for Munich? Around 200,000 people live in the Bavarian capital who are affected by the shift in the election of the migration advisory board. In this context, the role of integration advisory boards gains relevance. These bodies have their own decision -making skills compared to foreigners who often have only advisory capacity and are more involved in political processes. But here too, challenges such as language barriers or lack of political experience are often the order of the day.

outlook

The discussion about the political rights of migrants has also progressed in other European countries. The pioneers include Sweden and Denmark, where third -fitted country at the local level can choose. Germany is one of the few countries that have not yet dared to take this step. In view of the current developments in Germany, the question arises as to whether and when there will be a rethink.

The topic is underway, and Marie does not take abbreviations. As a city with a high proportion of migrants, Munich has to make sure that the voices of all citizens are heard more than ever. The migration advisory board could play a key role here, but this also needs corresponding political framework.