The Serbski Sejm congratulates new Sorbs/Wends councillors in Brandenburg and Saxony

New Sorbs/Wends councillors have been elected in Brandenburg and Saxony. The Serbski Sejm congratulates the new councillors and hopes that they will be able to influence political decisions in Brandenburg and Saxony in a positive way. The Serbski Sejm is interested in constructive co-operation and mutual support in order to improve the situation of the Sorbian people.

In Saxony, the members of the Sorbian Council were elected by the state parliament. The Serbski Sejm regrets that its candidate Dr Tomaš Wornar, nominated by Smy e.V., did not receive enough votes from the state parliament. As a result, the majority of the Sejm unfortunately ignored the Council of Europe's demand to recognise the diversity of the Sorbian people. Nevertheless, 53 votes are a respectable success and we would like to thank the parliamentary groups that voted in favour of our candidate.

The election of the Sorbian/Wendish councillors in Brandenburg, which has now been tried and tested several times, deserves special mention: it is carried out freely by the Sorbian/Wendish people in Brandenburg. It is the model for the elections to the Serbski Sejm as an all-Sorbian representation of the people. All Sorbian associations can nominate candidates, all members of the Sorbian people can vote.

The Sorbian/Wenden councils are organised as advisory councils to the state parliaments in Brandenburg and Saxony as well as to the Saxon state government. The Serbski Sejm, on the other hand, sees itself as a parliamentary representation for the political decision-making of the Sorbian/Wendish people and would like to close the existing political gap for the Sorbian/Wendish people in the Sorbian laws of the federal states. In the long term, the Serbski Sejm is endeavouring to form a Sorbian/Wendish body under public law. This would allow the Sorbian/Wendish people to emancipate themselves from a purely consultative role and take on their own responsibility. This would also expand the framework for the activities of the Sorbian associations and the umbrella organisation Domowina.

The elections for the second Serbski Sejm will take place until 27 February 2025. Voters can register for the election in writing or online. There are 39 candidates running for the 24 seats.