- Network of young mayors: political will under pressure
Young Mayors Complain of Increasing Strain in Office, Still Eager for Local Politics
Young mayors are expressing concern about the growing pressure of their roles, but according to their association, they still have a strong desire for local politics. While dissatisfaction among young city leaders is rising, there's also a "now more than ever" sentiment, said Henning Witzel, the managing director of the nationwide network of young mayors, in an interview with the German Press Agency. He stated, "I won't leave my community to the right."
Witzel believes the number of young politicians is increasing. Many still feel that it's a great job because they have the power to shape things.
However, many local politicians report facing hostility and threats. Political parties express concern about the growing difficulty in finding candidates for political offices.
Recently, the withdrawal of the district administrator of Mittelsachsen, Dirk Neubauer (independent), made headlines. He stepped down, in part, due to right-wing hate and lack of political will in the region.
In Brandenburg, the mayor of the small town of Zehdenick in the Oberhavel district, Lucas Halle (SPD), has announced his resignation, citing health reasons. Halle, who was elected in 2022 at the age of 24, was the youngest full-time mayor in Germany, according to the network.
The association of young mayors called on the federal government to strengthen municipalities. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities warned in July that their financial situation would significantly deteriorate in the coming years.
Witzel criticized the federal government's lack of consideration for the municipal level. "But it's the level where people want to see the results of politics." There's growing concern that the municipal infrastructure will suffer due to tight budgets and red figures.
"The federal budget for 2025 will not be sufficient to make urgently needed investments in public infrastructure and social programs," according to a newsletter from the association of young mayors in Germany. The non-partisan network was established in 2019.
The managing director of the network of young mayors, Henning Witzel, expressed his commitment to his community, stating, "I won't leave my community to the right." Additionally, the association of young mayors in Germany raised concerns about the federal budget for 2025 being insufficient to allocate funds for necessary investments in public infrastructure and social programs.
