- Mayors should be in office for eight years instead of five
Mayors and councilors in Lower Saxony are to be elected for eight years instead of five in the future. The red-green state government has agreed on a corresponding change in the law.
Interior Minister Daniela Behrens said, "With the extension, we want to make the offices more attractive to potential candidates. Like other employers, municipalities are in intense competition for qualified management personnel." The municipalities have repeatedly requested the extension of the term of office of the main administrative officials.
The SPD and Greens had previously shortened the terms of office.
The terms of office of the elected officials remain unaffected by the draft law. The reform will mainly apply to officials elected for a term starting on November 1, 2026. However, if mayors or councilors resign from office before the new regulation comes into force, the longer term of office could also apply earlier.
At the beginning of the first red-green coalition under Minister President Stephan Weil, the SPD and Greens shortened the terms of office of local leaders from eight to five years in 2013. Weil said last year that he had advocated for this at the time from his experience as Lord Mayor of Hannover. However, the conditions have changed significantly since then. The issues have become more difficult, public discussions rougher, and the workload much greater, said the SPD politician.
The proposed change in Lower Saxony's law will make the mayoral and councilor positions in Lower Saxony eight-year terms, as agreed upon by the red-green state government. This extension, according to Interior Minister Daniela Behrens, aims to make these offices more appealing to potential candidates due to increased competition for qualified leadership in municipalities.
