After local elections in North Rhine-WestphaliaIs the firewall broken? There is already a deputy mayor from the AfD here
from Vanessa Brodka
The majority of Dortmund city council members passed a firewall resolution opposing the AfD. Therefore, decisions should not be taken based on the votes of the Alternative for Germany. However, the Arnsberg district government withdrew the decision and deemed it illegal because it was undemocratic. However, many cities continue to adhere to political policies. However, in several cities in NRW, this condition is now starting to collapse.
Who voted for the AfD?
At first glance, Bad Salzuflen (Lippe district) looks beautiful: but currently there is a big accident there. Because the new third deputy mayor comes from the AfD. For Sabine Reinknecht, this was initially good news. 16 councilors voted for trained hairdressers, three more than their party chair. Voting is carried out in secret. However, there had been an agreement between the other factions beforehand. Therefore, the Green Party candidate should get the post. Mayor Dirk Tolkemitt (CDU) was disappointed and therefore lost confidence in the parliamentary group, he said.
Will the firewall in North Rhine-Westphalia survive?
The AfD achieved a landslide victory in local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. He is currently deputy mayor in Bad Salzuflen, Velbert, Bochum-Wattenscheid and in two districts of Gelsenkirchen. Nevertheless, most people in North Rhine-Westphalia are sticking to the firewall, says political scientist Norbert Kersting. He believes that individual candidates from the CDU are not sticking to the agreement because of the protests. In Bad Salzuflen it was unclear who voted for the AfD candidate. Left-wing groups now want to re-elect him and are planning a similar motion. A majority of board members must sign it. This is made possible by municipal regulations in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Will there now be a vote in Bad Salzuflen?
A vote on canceling the election is expected to take place on Wednesday (November 19). At least 47 of the 70 council members must support it. This vote is not secret. Sabine Reinknecht (AfD) considers this unfair, as her group is the third strongest force in the city council. Moreover, it is undemocratic for him because he was “democratically elected with a majority” and “just because the results were incorrect,” the election should not be repeated, according to the politician. The application has not yet been submitted, but Dirk Tolkemitt (CDU) is waiting for it and supports the move. The AfD politician assumed he would lose his post again. The third deputy must then be re-elected – but again in secret.
