The new coalition of SPD and CDU in Offenbach’s city council has set its personnel course. On Thursday, the council elected Andreas Bruszynski (CDU) and Helena Wolf (SPD) to the full-time municipal board. Earlier, the coalition had dismissed their predecessors: Mayor Sabine Groß (Greens) and city councilor Paul-Gerhard Weiß (FDP) had to leave.
The dismissal succeeded on the first ballot, even though the law requires two votes. Coalition speakers emphasized that the removal was not directed at the individuals or their work, but was a consequence of the coalition shift from a traffic-light alliance to a partnership between SPD and CDU. The new majority wants to anchor its influence at the top of the administration as well.
The process raises a fundamental question: In Hesse, the election terms of city councilors (five years) and full-time city councilors (six years) are decoupled. This can cause a mismatch between political majorities and the composition of the administrative leadership. The hurdles for a dismissal are also inconsistent: in municipalities with up to 50,000 inhabitants, a two-thirds majority is required; in larger cities, a simple majority suffices after local elections. The FAZ suggests considering a closer link between election and office terms.
Source: www.faz.net
