Ex-Green Boris Palmer runs for voters' association

"Boris is back". Former Green politician Boris Palmer is concerned about district finances in Baden-Württemberg. That's why the now independent politician is running for the Free Voters Association in 2024. He could have a say on money in the district council. However, he does not want to weaken his former party.

Tübingen's Lord Mayor Boris Palmer is running for the list of the Free Voters Association (FWV) in the Tübingen constituency in the local elections in Baden-Württemberg on 9 June 2024. He said in Tübingen about his motivation: "It's about money." For the coming year, 60 million euros in district contributions are planned. In the district council, he can have a say in the amount of the district levy and how much money flows back into his city for projects. It makes sense for the Lord Mayor to sit on the district council.

Palmer has been Lord Mayor of Tübingen since 2007. In October 2022, he stood as an independent candidate in the mayoral election and was re-elected at the first attempt - he was starting his third term in office. In May of this year, the politician resigned from the Green Party following a scandal over the use of the N-word at a migration conference in Frankfurt. His membership had already been suspended due to provocative statements. He took a month's sabbatical in June. He had also sought professional help.

The chairman of the FWV parliamentary group in the district council, Thomas Hölsch, said that Palmer was a "vote locomotive" for the Free Voters Association. "We are looking forward to Boris Palmer joining us next year and of course achieving the best possible result for constituency 1 for Tübingen and also for the entire parliamentary group." The FWV would like to become the strongest parliamentary group in the district council in the next local elections. The Free Voters Association currently has 16 seats there, while the Greens are currently the strongest party with 18 seats. Palmer said that his aim was not to weaken the Greens.

"Tough distribution battles lie ahead"

According to Palmer, the district finances are in a deep slump - and the municipalities are being dragged down with them. "The state and federal government are responsible for this downward spiral. Because they are transferring more and more tasks to us that we are supposed to pay for but cannot. And there are tough distribution battles ahead," said Palmer. He had already considered getting involved in the district council in the past. "But it was out of the question because it was clear from my previous party membership that the party's basic line was: mayors out of the district council."

His need to join a party is close to zero at the moment, said Palmer. The only grouping in which one does not have to become a party member, does not have to become a member of a federal political organization in the district council of Tübingen, is the Free Voters Association. "Quite simple," said Palmer.

According to Hölsch, the Freie Wähler Vereinigung (FWV) has nothing to do with the Freie Wähler party. The FWV was founded in the 1950s. After the Federal Association of Free Voters was formed in 2010, the FWV wanted to have the name "Freie Wähler" protected because it feared a possible risk of confusion as harmful to itself. However, the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court ruled against this in 2010. The Federal Association of Free Voters was then allowed to use the term "Freie Wähler" for itself.