On 14 January 2016 the electoral board of Brandenburg announced that 103.891 people had supported the initiative necessary to trigger a referendum against factory farming. 80.000 signatures were necessary.

The parliament of Brandenburg now can adopt the demands by the people, if not, a referendum will be held during the summer. Democracy International’s partner organisation Omnibus für Direkte Demokratie was heavily involved in the citizens' alliance "Agricultural Revolution Berlin-Brandenburg" (Agrarwende Berlin-Brandenburg). It had been collecting signatures for a popular vote since 15 July 2015.

Fully landlocking Berlin, Brandenburg is the biggest state of former Eastern Germany. It counts more than 5600 farms that in total employ more than 36.500 people (see source). Under the slogan “Wir haben es satt” (We are fed up), 23.000 people protested against factory farming in Germany’s capital as part of the campaign.

More information on the campaign by Omnibus für Direkte Demokratie here (in German).

Text by Cora Pfafferott