By
our dpa-correspondent and Europe Online
Regensburg, Germany (dpa) – Voters in the Bavarian district of
Straubing-Bogen will vote Sunday in local elections for the second
time in 10 months, after allegations that an asparagus
farmer-cum-conservative politician falsified several hundred ballots
last year.
Investigators believe that the asparagus farmer and member of the
Christian Social Union (CSU) – the Bavarian affiliate party of
Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s conservatives – manipulated more than 260
ballots in the town of Geiselhoering with the help of Polish and
Romanian farm hands.
While the probe is ongoing, investigators say that the woman, who
joined the city council in March, worked alongside five accomplices
who allegedly filled out the 260 ballots. The 49-year-old, who has
since left the CSU, denies the charges.
CSU politician Herbert Lichtinger won 53.8 per cent of the vote last
year, with incumbent mayor and member of the Freie Waehler party
Bernhard Krempl coming in second at 46.2 per cent.
Investigators say the difference of 303 votes could have been
achieved through ballot manipulation. The city council is currently
being run by a non-partisan caretaker.
About 79,000 people are eligible to cast their ballot in Sunday‘s
vote. Local officials say the cost of the new vote will amount to
hundreds of thousands of euros.
Bavaria is Germany‘s largest and most-prosperous state.
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter
weiter