There is criticism of the re-election of Mayor Adolf Bauer. Who will the Würzburg city council then make new mayors? These could get more power in the future.
Photo: Daniel Peter
The first meeting of the new city council next Monday will be exciting. Not only who is elected mayor is still open at the moment. It could even be that the two posts gain significantly more power than they previously had.
Photo: Johannes Kiefer
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As reported, the parties and groups of the city council are currently trying to set an important course behind the scenes: it is about positions on supervisory boards, for example in the companies of the city group WVV, and above all about the two deputies of Mayor Christian Schuchardt (CDU). So far, it has been known that the Greens and CSU factions have a right to the first or second mayor – and are seeking majorities in the city council for their candidates.
According to information from this editorial team, the Greens are discussing Barbara Lehrieder and Martin Heilig. In the CSU parliamentary group, judge Judith Jörg is to be treated as an alternative to Adolf Bauer.
Photo: Angelika Cronauer
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The Greens do not want to express themselves. “At the moment there is nothing to say,” explains Heilig. Group leader Matthias Pilz is also silent. CSU parliamentary group leader Wolfgang Roth is a bit more talkative. “Our favorite is still Adolf Bauer,” says Roth, repeating what he said last week.
But he also admits that “there are now more voices who think it is time for a fresh start”. If it became clear that Bauer did not have a majority in the city council, the CSU would make an alternative proposal. The 74-year-old former episcopal finance director Bauer has been in office for 24 years. He himself was not available for the editorial team on Wednesday.
According to Roth, the CSU is in discussion with all parties and groups of the city council apart from the AfD and is looking for a proposal that is widely accepted. “I don’t want a vote on Monday in which the two AfD votes decide,” emphasizes Roth.
Photo: Angelika Cronauer
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The crux of the mayoral election this time is not just the people, but also their future functions. Discussions are underway to upgrade the previously honorary mayors to full-time. The second and third mayors would then continue to represent the mayor with representation tasks and chairing meetings – and would also lead their own lectures such as the environment, sport or school.
With this additional power, full-time mayors would be an even stronger link between politics and administration. “According to the municipal code, the city council decides whether it wants to have honorary or full-time mayors,” explains town hall spokesman Christian Weiß. The idea in Würzburg is not entirely new. At the beginning of his political career, former mayor Jürgen Weber was responsible for real estate, business and sport as the full-time mayor of the CSU.
According to information from this editorial team, this restructuring particularly appeals to parts of the Green Group. “We are still discussing this,” explains its leader Roth for the CSU parliamentary group. In contrast, the SPD rejects the idea. The four-member parliamentary group explains in a press release that long-time mayor Marion Schäfer-Blake is no longer standing for election. The comrades tie their approval to other candidates to two demands: one of the two mayor posts is filled with a woman and both remain voluntary.
Left City Councilor Sebastian Roth does not want a full-time mayor
“At least one woman,” Sebastian Roth would like that too. The three-member Left Group rejects a full-time mayor. “Firstly, because it will be more expensive for the city,” says Roth. “And secondly, lectures should be given by specialists.”
On the other hand, Josef Hofmann, chairman of the parliamentary group of free voters, may imagine full-time mayor. “If the existing competence is the decisive criterion.” In this case, the next step would be to redistribute the tasks of the five units in the town hall and possibly save speakers.
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Wurzburg
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Manuela Göbel
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Adolf Bauer
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Alternative for Germany
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Barbara Lehrieder
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Mayor and Mayor
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Mayoral elections
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CDU
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CSU
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Christian Schuchardt
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Group leaders
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Free voters
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Greens Group
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Josef Hofmann
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Judith Jörg
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Jürgen Weber
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Marion Schäfer-Blake
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Matthias Pilz
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SPD
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Sebastian Roth
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City councils and municipal councils
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Cities
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Wolfgang Roth
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