As here in Prenzlauer Berg, voters waited a long time on Sunday to be able to cast their vote. In some polling stations not even that was possible because the slips were missing Photo: dpa picture alliance
From BZ/dpa
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is examining in Berlin this week whether it will send observers to the repeat elections on February 12.
A spokeswoman for the organization said in Warsaw that staff at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) would be holding talks with the Federal Foreign Office, the Berlin authorities, parties and associations to carry out a needs analysis. Should there be a need, the scope of the mission would be determined, then election observers would be selected. That is the usual procedure.
According to a ruling by the Berlin Constitutional Court, the elections for the House of Representatives and the district assemblies in September 2021 must be repeated due to numerous mishaps.
Berlin had invited the OSCE to observe the elections. State Returning Officer Stephan Bröchler wants to regain trust in democracy. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe announced shortly before Christmas that it would send its own observers.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe includes 57 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. It sees itself as a dialogue forum for stability, peace and democracy.