- The city wants more money from drivers for parking, except from their own people.
In December, the city council of Magdeburg decided to increase parking fees in the city center. Such a decision alone is usually enough to cause a minor uproar among visitors and residents. However, as reported by "Bild", that's not all. Another change for parkers is causing even more discomfort.
Next week, the city's representatives will discuss whether they want to exempt themselves from the higher fees - a request submitted by CDU and FDP. According to "Bild", CDU politician Bernd Heynemann said, "The increase in parking fees also entails an increased burden for city council members." He therefore demands a "special parking permit for city council members during the sessions," as these often last the whole day, significantly increasing the financial burden of council members who travel by car.
Public Transportation is Not an Option
In the future, a public parking spot in Magdeburg will cost up to 13.50 euros per day. And indeed, the honorary local politicians do not seem to earn much - according to "Bild", they receive 16 euros for each session and a flat rate of 230 euros per month.
Heynemann also explains why he agrees that everyone else should somehow accept the new fees. In his opinion, visitors to the city "don't come in on a volunteer basis" and come to the city center for "coffee or a stroll." He also has an answer to why city council members don't use public transportation. According to him, that's not an option because "after 21:00, I don't take the tram anymore, and in winter, I don't sit on a bike."
Criticism of the Request for an Exception for Parking
The Federation of Taxpayers in Saxony-Anhalt criticized this. Ralf Seibicke told "Bild": "The city council members should have thought about the consequences of an increase beforehand. If you turn the screw on the fees, you can't exempt yourself." He called the still-to-be-negotiated request a "strong piece."
Whether the wish of CDU and FDP will be granted remains to be seen. A Left Party politician has already announced her dissenting vote, and a SPD city council member also showed no understanding. Both were surprised by the council members' consideration of how best to circumvent their own rules. In any case, it is unlikely to go down well with visitors and residents if they grant themselves an exemption.
The European Union has expressed concern over the potential inconsistency in implementing parking fee increases, as some city council members in Magdeburg are seeking an exemption from these increases. The mayor of Magdeburg, meantime, has defended the council members' request, stating that public transportation is not a viable option for them due to late hours and weather conditions.
