Municipal parliaments - Political scientist: "Firewall" to the AfD already has many holes
Rostock political scientist Wolfgang Muno sees only limited chances for the AfD, despite their successes in the June 9th election, to become presidents or chairpersons in district councils or city parliaments. The so-called "Brand Wall" has had many holes in it in recent years. If AfD representatives were to be elected as chairpersons in councils or district councils, "one would actually begin to tear down the Brand Wall in earnest," Muno told the German Press Agency. In Rostock and Schwerin, the AfD is putting forward their own candidates for the June 17th session.
The communal constitution in MV does not stipulate that the strongest force must also appoint the president in the communal parliament, according to Muno. "It would actually be undemocratic to say that the largest party always appoints the chairman because it's about finding a majority. And that's an essential democratic element, that one must put oneself up for election and then obtain a majority." The other parties in Rostock have already signaled that they intend to prevent a possible AfD council president.
The AfD received the most votes in the free cities of Rostock and Schwerin, as well as in many other communities and in the districts of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Nordwestmecklenburg, and Vorpommern-Greifswald on June 9th. According to the communal constitution, the representatives elect the chairman from among themselves at the constituent session. However, it is common practice for the strongest faction to appoint the chairman.
AfD state leader Leif-Erik Holm is running for the position in Schwerin
The AfD nominated Michael Meister as their candidate for the June 17th session in Rostock. In the state capital Schwerin, AfD state chairman Leif-Erik Holm is running for the position on Monday (8. July) for the post, which in addition to organizational tasks for the council meetings also includes representative functions. However, negotiations about the candidates are still ongoing in many districts.
The constituent sessions must take place within two months of a communal election. The first sessions will take place on Monday (8. July) in the state capital Schwerin and in the Vorpommern-Rügen district. This will be followed by the districts of Rostock on July 10th, Mecklenburgische Seenplatte on July 15th, Vorpommern-Greifswald on July 15th, the Hanseatic City of Rostock on July 17th, the Ludwigslust-Parchim district on July 18th, and the Nordwestmecklenburg district also on July 18th.
The constituent sessions are opened by the oldest representative. "Under his leadership, the district council elects from its midst the district council president or district council president, who or she holds the chair in the district council," it says in Paragraph 106 of the communal constitution MV. AfD politicians are also eligible for this position if they are of the appropriate age. Muno considers this perfectly acceptable. "If someone is an 90-year-old representative of Party XY, they can then open the session as the elder. That's just how it is."
- Despite the AfD's successes in Rostock and Schwerin, political scientist Wolfgang Muno believes they have limited chances to become presidents or chairpersons in municipal parliaments or county councils.
- In the event of AfD representatives being elected as chairpersons in councils or district councils, Muno warns that "one would actually begin to tear down the Brand Wall in earnest."
- Leif-Erik Holm, the AfD's state leader, is running for the position in Schwerin's municipal parliament on July 8th.
- According to the communal constitution, the representatives in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania elect the chairman from among themselves at the constituent session, but it's common for the strongest faction to appoint the chairman.
- In the state capital Schwerin and Vorpommern-Rügen district, the constituent sessions will take place on July 8th and 15th, respectively, followed by other districts and municipalities.
- AfD politicians are eligible for the position of district council president or district council president in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania if they meet the appropriate age requirements, according to Paragraph 106 of the communal constitution.
