Germany’s printing sector on Monday said it is capable of producing ballot papers for an early national election, days after the collapse of the country’s three-party coalition.
“If ordered promptly, printing companies can produce the ballot papers for an early general election,” said Kirsten Hommelhoff from the German Printing and Media Industries Federation.
The industry has “enormous capabilities in the short term,” Hommelhoff added.
The comments came after the country’s top election official, Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand, warned Chancellor Olaf Scholz that calling an election over the Christmas period would carry “unforeseeable risks,” highlighting issues with the production and printing of ballots as an example.
Hommelhoff slammed Brand’s letter. “In order to divert attention from her own organizational and administrative problems, the Federal Returning Officer is passing the buck to the paper and printing industry,” she argued.
The criticism echoed comments made last week by Alexander von Reibnitz from Germany’s paper industry trade association.
