GERMAN ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26290, 23 October 1946, Page 6

GERMAN ELECTIONS

The elections which have just been held in Berlin were for the setting up of a Central Government for the British zone and represented the third and final step in the recent measures to establish local selfgovernment. The victory for the Christian Democrats, with the Social Democrats in second place, is a repetition of the results of the earlier municipal elections and the preliminary parish elections, although on this occasion the majority for the Christian Democrats has been substantially larger. These results are particularly interesting when considered along with the results of elections in the other zones of occupied Germany. In the Russian zone, as is to be expected, the Communists flourish, but dissatisfaction with the existence of another large party, the Social Democrats, was revealed by the Russian-inspired move to bring about a fusion of the two units—a proposal which was defeated in the non-Russian areas. In the American zone municipal elections were held in January, when the Communists and Social Democrats emerged as the leading parties although the appearance was noted of a new party, the Christian Democrats, in Bavaria. Elections at higher administrative levels were to have been held later this year, but as yet they have not taken place. In the French zone district elections were held earlier this month, when the Christian Democrats obtained a two to one lead over the Social Democrats. The Christian Democrat Party is described as a “ centre ” party based on Christian and democratic principles. The rise to favour of this party emphasises the distrust of Russian Communism which is also revealed by the falling off in the support of the Social Democrats, who, while opposed to fusion with the Communists, were nevertheless prepared to co-operate with them. The present elections have been carried out under the Potsdam agreement, which provided that administration of affairs in Germany should be directed towards the decentralising of the political structure and the development of local responsibility. At present local administration is carried on in the British zone by German officials and politicians - appointed by the Military Government, with the aid of councils ! nominated by this Government from j members of approved political ! parties. As the elections are held 1 these councils will be replaced by

representative local authorities entitled to speak and act on behalf of their communities. This change represents more than the abolition of fifteen years of dictatorship by the Nazi Party. It is a radical departure from the older German tradition of an authoritarian municipal administration drawing its power from above and largely independent of elected councils. Various constitutional reforms are already in operation, but the problem must still be to educate the people to make local government the expression of the local community’s own will—a task which is made more difficult by the apathy of a defeated people and by the lack-df young leaders with an understanding of democracy.