Expanding the space for virtual city council sessions - Paving the path for digital local government bodies
In a significant move towards modernising municipal politics, the state of Baden-Württemberg has passed an amendment to the municipal code, allowing municipal and county councils to conduct meetings digitally. This move aims to increase the compatibility of local government with private life and profession, a necessity accelerated by the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new rules, which have been recently enacted, do not mandate digital participation. Instead, they offer the flexibility for residents and politicians to choose whether to attend meetings in person or digitally. This flexibility is expected to make it easier for municipal and county councils to conduct their business in the future.
Not everyone has welcomed this change, however. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been vocal in its criticism, preferring physical meetings as the benchmark. The AfD believes that the traditional method of meetings should remain the standard.
Despite the criticism, Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) has defended the new rules. He stated that they relieve honorary municipal politicians, allowing them to participate in meetings more easily, especially those who may have professional or personal commitments that make attending in-person meetings difficult.
However, it is worth noting that the new rules do not apply to county councils in the city of Stuttgart, as it is a state council. Furthermore, Minister Strobl has emphasised that no reliable, location-independent solution for elections has been found yet. He has also made it clear that he is not experimenting with elections.
The new rules do not require mayors and county commissioners who chair meetings to participate digitally. They must be personally present to ensure the proper conduct of meetings.
As always, it is important for citizens to stay informed about the latest developments in local government. For authoritative, up-to-date information on the new rules for digital meetings in county councils in Baden-Württemberg, we recommend consulting the official Baden-Württemberg state government or Interior Ministry websites or recent legislative documents directly.
- The amendment to the municipal code in Baden-Württemberg also includes the adaptation of community policy, as digital meetings will likely require the use of advanced technology for smooth conduct.
- As part of the policy-and-legislation discussions surrounding this move, there has been a political debate about the benefits and drawbacks of digital meetings in the context of general news, with some parties preferring traditional methods while others see it as a step forward in modernising municipal politics.
