Annually budgeted amount amounts to approximately 12 million euros
In an unprecedented move, the city of Kassel has decided to sue against the outcomes of the 2022 census. The city council made this decision at a meeting on Monday evening, citing methodological and technical shortcomings, lack of transparency, and discrepancies between the census data and their own registry.
The city's treasurer, Matthias Nölke, has identified numerous issues within the census procedure, including linguistically insufficient survey documents, outdated address lists, and problems with postal delivery of questionnaires. These concerns have led Kassel to question the reliability and accuracy of the census outcomes.
The city believes it has around 7,000 fewer inhabitants than registered, a discrepancy that could have significant financial implications. According to Nölke, a loss of 12 million euros would be substantial, especially considering the city's budgetary commitments.
The city's concerns have been echoed by 41 Hessian municipalities, who have also criticised the census for lack of transparency. However, the state office has denied these allegations, claiming that the census process was transparent and fair.
The statistical method used in the census has been confirmed by the Federal Constitutional Court as scientifically sound. Yet, the municipalities continue to question the methodical correctness of the latest census, citing the aforementioned shortcomings.
The statistics authority has already sent the objection decisions to the Hessian municipalities, and the cities have one month from receipt of these decisions to file a lawsuit. The administrative courts will now decide on the dispute between the city of Kassel and the statistics authority, a conflict that is expected to keep the courts busy in the coming months.
This legal challenge by Kassel is not an isolated incident. Cities across the country have been contesting national census results based on methodology, technical handling, and data discrepancies. If you need further precise details on Kassel's lawsuit, more targeted recent sources or official statements from the city would be necessary.
- The financial implications of the census discrepancy in Kassel could potentially impact the city's business operations, as the city believes it has around 7,000 fewer inhabitants than registered, which could result in a loss of millions of euros.
- The controversy over the 2022 census extends beyond Kassel, as 41 Hessian municipalities have also criticized the census for lack of transparency and question the methodological correctness of the latest census, similar to other cities across the country that have been contesting national census results.
